Enlarge image
Search for Jan Marsalek in Hamburg
Photo:
Daniel Bockwoldt / dpa
The German investigative authorities are following a new possible lead to the volatile ex-Wirecard board member Jan Marsalek.
According to the "Handelsblatt", the trigger is a rental transfer from the United Arab Emirates.
The landlord of an apartment rented by Marsalek in Munich-Schwabing had received around 80,000 euros - the entire annual rent in advance, with the message "for Jan".
Marsalek's long-time friend lived in the apartment until recently.
The sender's name on the transfer was reportedly Jamil Uddin Ahmed.
The money came from a major bank in the United Arab Emirates.
When asked, the Munich public prosecutor confirmed "the receipt of a money laundering report from the Fürst-Fugger-Bank in this connection."
The landlord of the Munich apartment did not accept the rental payment of 80,000 euros.
Marsalek is considered to be one of the pullers behind the multi-billion dollar fraud scandal that plunged Wirecard into bankruptcy.
Even during his time with the payment service provider, he used pseudonyms several times and, for example, logged into video conferences as "John Smith".
On his escape he communicated with confidants as "Richard Dabrowski" and "Karim Gasmi", among others.
About a year ago he went into hiding.
It is still unclear whether Marsalek might be behind the sender of the 80,000 euro transfer.
Likewise, whether he is in the Emirates.
It is also unclear whether the transfer was actually only recently commissioned - or whether it was terminated a long time ago.
Accordingly, the transfer does not seem to be a really hot lead for the investigators.
ssu