It had to happen. In the only reasonable twist, the Wirecard trial has seen a significant shift with the resignation of star defense lawyer Alfred Dierlamm. Reportedly, Dierlamm resigned due to financial constraints, leaving the defense of Markus Braun, the accused CEO of the collapsed Wirecard, in the hands of a new advocate, Theres Kraußlach. She has requested that the criminal file of fugitive Jan Marsalek be included. We applaud her for this move!
New Leadership in Defense
Theres Kraußlach (LinkedIn), a young and assertive lawyer who was already part of Braun’s defense team, has taken over the reins. Kraußlach’s approach marks a stark departure from her predecessor’s, as she is pushing for the inclusion of crucial espionage-related evidence surrounding Jan Marsalek, the fugitive former Wirecard board member who has been linked to Russian intelligence operations.
Espionage and Secret Service Activities
The Wirecard trial, currently focused on financial fraud, may be overlooking a critical aspect of the case. Marsalek, who is conspicuously absent from the courtroom, is alleged to have used Wirecard as a vehicle for espionage. Kraußlach argues that these activities are inextricably linked to the charges against Braun and must be thoroughly investigated to exonerate her client.
Read our reports on Jan Marsalek here.
Kraußlach has called for the summoning of numerous witnesses from Austrian and Russian intelligence circles and demanded that the Federal Intelligence Service release its files on Marsalek. She contends that this evidence is vital to demonstrating that Marsalek orchestrated a scheme to siphon funds from Wirecard for clandestine operations without Braun’s knowledge.
The Prosecution’s Narrow Focus
The prosecution, however, appears determined to keep the trial’s focus narrowly on financial fraud. By doing so, they aim to convict Braun and his alleged accomplices, including key witness Oliver Bellenhaus and the former chief accountant Stephan von Erffa, of fabricating billions in revenue to sustain the company. This strategy, while perhaps effective in securing a conviction, may be sidestepping the broader truth.
Kraußlach criticizes this approach, emphasizing that Marsalek’s and his network’s espionage activities are fundamental to understanding the full scope of Wirecard‘s collapse. She argues that the prosecution’s reluctance to incorporate these elements is a deliberate attempt to simplify the narrative at the expense of justice.
Read our Wirecard reports here.
The Quest for Truth
The defense contends that Braun has been unjustly detained for nearly four years, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial. Kraußlach’s strategy is not merely to defend Braun against fraud charges but to uncover the deeper machinations that may have implicated him without his knowledge. She points to investigative work by the German news magazine “Der Spiegel,” which has shed light on Marsalek’s covert operations, suggesting a complex web of espionage that intertwines with the financial misconduct allegations.
Conclusion
As the Wirecard trial unfolds, the insistence on a final clarification of espionage allegations by Kraußlach underscores a crucial point: the pursuit of justice demands a comprehensive examination of all relevant facts. The prosecution’s apparent strategy to narrow the focus of the trial might undermine the quest for truth, leaving significant questions unanswered.
FinTelegram will continue to monitor and report on the developments of the Wirecard trial and its legacy. If you have any information about Wirecard and its people, please share it with us via our whistleblower system, Whistle42.
