Karl-Erivan Haub missing person case
The public prosecutor’s office is investigating the brother of the missing Tengelmann boss
Since his brother’s disappearance, Christian Haub has led the Tengelmann Group as sole managing director
© Lars Heidrich / Imago Images
In April 2018, the former Tengelmann boss Karl-Erivan Haub disappeared without a trace, and three years later he was declared dead – his brother had previously submitted an affidavit. The Cologne public prosecutor’s office is now investigating him.
In connection with the disappearance of the former Tengelmann boss Karl-Erivan Haub is being investigated by the Cologne public prosecutor’s office against his brother and successor at the top of the company, Christian Haub. The public prosecutor’s office said there was an initial suspicion of false statements made under oath. In May 2021, Christian Haub submitted an affidavit to the Cologne District Court stating that he had no reliable evidence or even evidence that his brother could still be alive. A little later, Karl-Erivan Haub was declared dead.
The managing director and co-owner of the Tengelmann Group disappeared without a trace in April 2018 during a ski tour on the Matterhorn. Despite extensive searches, no body was found. According to research by RTL journalist Liv von Boetticher, Karl-Erivan Haub may have fled to Russia.
The current investigation goes back to a criminal complaint filed by Boettichers. According to the public prosecutor’s office, the complaint “stated, among other things, that the accused – contrary to his statements – had reliable evidence that the missing person, Karl-Erivan Haub, could still be alive.” According to Boettichers’ research, Christian Haub had commissioned internal investigations into his brother’s whereabouts. The star told the background to the case in a cover story in spring 2023.
Christian Haub: Public prosecutor points out the presumption of innocence
The Cologne public prosecutor’s office referred to the presumption of innocence. So far there is no reason to request that the declaration of death be revoked. For this to happen, it would have to be established that the missing person is still alive. This is currently not the case.
After the declaration of death, Christian Haub took over the majority shares in the Tengelmann Group. The family business includes chains such as Obi and Kik, and for a long time also supermarkets such as Kaiser’s Tengelmann and Plus.