crime
Start of the fraud trial involving the former “Gorch Fock” shipyard
The trial at the Oldenburg regional court is intended to clarify the scandal surrounding the expensive repair of the naval sailing training ship “Gorch Fock”. photo
© Sina Schuldt/dpa
Billings from the former Elsfleth shipyard are said to have been systematically incorrect. The total damage is estimated at around 7.2 million euros. Six people suspected of being responsible have been charged.
After the expensive repair of the naval sailing training ship “Gorch Fock” a fraud and corruption trial has begun in Oldenburg. The public prosecutor’s office initially charged two 55-year-old ex-board members of the former Elsfleth shipyard with commercial fraud in a particularly serious case. The prosecution accuses them, among other things, of the naval arsenal in Wilhelmshaven to have systematically cheated. The arsenal is responsible for the operational capability of the German Navy.
The Elsfleth shipyard near Bremen was commissioned to repair the “Gorch Fock”. In 2019 it filed for bankruptcy and was sold. A total of six defendants are on trial in the trial. The proceedings have been moved from the court to the Weser-Ems-Hallen in Oldenburg.
In order to fulfill orders, the shipyard worked with subcontractors. The shipyard demanded and received discounts from the subcontractors – which was generally allowed. However, the shipyard is said to have illegally not informed the naval arsenal about the discounts. The board members are said to have initiated or approved the action.
7.2 million euros in damage
In addition to the “Gorch Fock”, the indictment concerns ten other shipyard repair projects. The total damage caused by the allegedly false invoices is estimated in the indictment at around 7.2 million euros. Of this, only around 250,000 euros should go to the “Gorch Fock”.
According to the investigators, the Elsfleth shipyard’s work on the “Gorch Fock” began in January 2016. The three-master ship was supposed to be upgraded within around four months. But it took more than five and a half years for the Navy to get the sailing ship back. The Lürssen shipyard in Bremen ultimately completed the “Gorch Fock”.
According to investigators, the costs rose from 9.6 million euros to 135 million euros. The Federal Ministry of Defense, then led by Ursula von der Leyen (CDU), admitted significant errors.
In addition to the former board members, a former executive assistant (32), a cost auditor for the naval arsenal (67), an ex-boss of a former subcontractor (53) and a former employee of this company (38) are also charged. The court separated a case against another man because he is ill.
The former executive assistant is said to have carried out banking transactions without permission. The prosecution accuses the cost auditor of accepting benefits in seven cases. The representatives of the subcontractor are said to have been guilty of granting joint benefits in three cases.
Process drags on
Today the court first dealt with the fraud allegations against the two former board members. The reading of the charges took several hours. The trial is scheduled to continue tomorrow. According to the spokesman, statements are possible. No witnesses were invited to the first two hearings. The court has initially set dates until December 11th.
According to the Bundeswehr, around 15,000 officer candidates have gained experience at sea on the “Gorch Fock” since 1958. The ship visited almost 390 ports in around 60 countries on training voyages and covered more than 750,000 nautical miles. This corresponds to around 35 orbits of the earth.