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Patricia Schlesinger: Former director of Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg
Photo: Paul Zinken / dpa
Allegations of nepotism against the former RBB director Patricia Schlesinger became loud – then she resigned.
The matter could now also have legal consequences for the 61-year-old: The Berlin public prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation, as a spokesman for the "Tagesspiegel" announced.
According to the spokesman for the general public prosecutor's office, there is initial suspicion against Schlesinger, her husband and former "SPIEGEL" journalist Gerhard Spörl, as well as the head of the RBB board of directors and chief trade fair controller Wolf-Dieter Wolf - of infidelity and acceptance of advantages.
A spokesman for the Berlin public prosecutor's office confirmed to SPIEGEL that Schlesinger, Spörl and Wolf were being investigated because of the initial suspicion of accepting an advantage or infidelity.
The starting point of the proceedings was a criminal complaint that was filed on July 19 by the AfD parliamentary group in the Brandenburg state parliament.
However, the information contained therein did not give rise to any initial suspicion, which is why the proceedings were initially discontinued on July 28th.
Since then, further details revealed by the media have provided new indications of possible criminal behavior, so that the public prosecutor's office would have reactivated the investigation "over the course of the last week".
The authority did not provide any details regarding the initial suspicion;
According to SPIEGEL information, however, the investigators are apparently focusing on the complex surrounding the awarding of orders to Messe Berlin GmbH.
Schlesinger, the head of the ARD broadcaster Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, who resigned on Sunday, has been exposed to numerous allegations since the end of June through media reports - especially from "Business Insider" - as have her husband and the head of the board of directors, Wolf, whose office at RBB is currently suspended.
An external investigation into a law firm is ongoing.
Results are not yet available.
It is about the question of whether the station boss and the station chief controller Wolf could have treated each other too laxly in the event of a possible collision of interests.
Both rejected allegations.
The previously unsolved allegations range from questionable consulting contracts to an RBB construction project that has now been put on hold, a large salary increase for Schlesinger to a good 300,000 euros and an additional bonus system.
It's also about food with "multipliers" at RBB's expense in your private apartment and a luxurious company car with massage seats, for which there is said to have been a very high discount.
Schlesinger's husband also received orders from the state-owned Messe Berlin.
Because of the ongoing allegations against the 61-year-old, the broadcaster's broadcasting council met on Monday for a special session.
srö/ani/dpa
