Attempted fraud and money laundering: investigations into “lateral thinking” initiator Ballweg are underway

Created: 12/28/2022, 7:05 p.m

By: Astrid Theil

Michael Ballweg, initiator of the “lateral thinking” initiative.

© Christoph Schmidt/dpa/archive image

The initiator of the "lateral thinking" movement has been in custody for six months because of the risk of escaping.

He is accused of attempted fraud and money laundering.

Stuttgart - An end to the investigations into the "lateral thinking" initiator Michael Ballweg is not in sight even after six months.

According to a spokeswoman for the Stuttgart public prosecutor's office on Wednesday, the investigations against the 48-year-old are still ongoing.

Ballweg has been in custody since June 29 because of the risk of absconding.

The allegations against him have since been downgraded somewhat by investigators.

Attempted commercial fraud and money laundering are currently being investigated.

According to the authorities, a search at the end of June revealed concrete evidence that Ballweg wanted to take his assets abroad.

At the time, according to information from judicial circles, there was a suspicion of fraud in the amount of around 640,000 euros.

In addition, the 48-year-old was accused of money laundering of around 430,000 euros.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution observes the "lateral thinking" movement: conspiracy ideas and anti-Semitism

The spokeswoman did not explain in detail what new findings meanwhile led to the prosecutor's office now only assuming an attempted crime.

The fact that allegations change in the course of the investigation is nothing unusual.

The “lateral thinking” movement had formed in many German cities from Stuttgart in the course of the corona pandemic.

The supporters repeatedly demonstrated publicly against the political measures to contain the corona virus.

There were also attacks on police officers and journalists.

The Office for the Protection of the Constitution monitors the scene for anti-constitutional views, conspiracy ideologies and anti-Semitic tendencies.

Detention for "lateral thinking" initiator: demonstrators are demanding his release

Ballweg's lawyers initially declined to comment on Wednesday (December 28).

You had failed in several attempts to get your client out of custody.

At rallies in front of the prison in Stuttgart-Stammheim, hundreds of people had demanded his release.

According to information from the city on Wednesday (December 28), no demonstrations "on this subject" were registered up to and including New Year's Eve.