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Still wanted:
The Russian secret service is said to have offered the German secret service BND an interrogation with ex-Wirecard board member
Jan Marsalek
, who is considered a fugitive
Photo: Daniel Bockwoldt / picture alliance /dpa
According to a media report, the wanted ex-Wirecard board member
Jan Marsalek
(42) went into hiding in Moscow and may still live there today.
The "Bild" newspaper (Monday edition) reported that Marsalek was under the "care" of the Russian secret service FSB.
Accordingly, his whereabouts have been known to the German authorities since the beginning of 2021, the newspaper writes.
At that time, the German embassy in Moscow learned, according to "Bild", that a sponsor of the German school there was doing ominous business.
The man is said to be dealing in the Russian vaccine Sputnik V, is in connection with a paramilitary mercenary force and has excellent contacts in Austria.
According to "Bild", the man should be Marsalek.
Shortly thereafter, according to "Bild", the FSB offered the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) a meeting and an interview with Marsalek.
The BND headquarters in Berlin had been informed about the offer.
According to the report, the Moscow BND officials asked for instructions as to whether a meeting with Marsalek should take place and how the alleged billionaire fraudster should be questioned.
Offer of talks - Chancellery allegedly informed
According to the newspaper, the BND headquarters did not answer the question from Moscow.
However, the Federal Chancellery was informed about the explosive offer of talks.
The Bavarian law enforcement authorities, who are investigating those responsible for the former Dax group near Munich, were apparently not informed about the offer.
They received only a vague indication of a building near a "long highway in Moscow" as Marsalek's hiding place.
A spokesman for the federal government told the "Bild" that the federal government does not publicly comment on matters "concerning any intelligence findings or activities of the intelligence services".
The Bundestag is therefore checking whether at least the investigative committee and control committee were properly informed.
The main hearing against the former Wirecard boss
Markus Braun
(53) before the Munich I district court is scheduled for autumn.
The Wirecard boardroom is said to have booked bogus transactions in the billions over the years in order to keep the company, which was then listed in the Dax, afloat and to cheat loans.
It is one of the biggest economic scandals in German history.
In addition to Braun, other ex-top managers have been charged.
Marsalek is officially considered to be in hiding.
The public prosecutor's office accuses Braun and other Wirecard executives of acting like a criminal gang and of cheating banks and investors out of at least three billion euros with the help of manipulated balance sheets.
rei/AFP/dpa-afx