The district court of Regensburg sentenced two managing directors of a pizzeria to suspended sentences and fines for systematic undeclared work.
Regensburg – A suspended prison sentence of one year and two months plus a fine of 7500 euros (150 daily rates of 50 euros) and a fine of 8100 euros (180 daily rates of 45 euros) – these are the penalties for the two managing directors of a pizza -Delivery service in the east of Regensburg.
Pizza delivery service in Regensburg: Systematic undeclared work
They had systematically built the pizza business on illegal employment and had been on trial for it since last November.
The jury chaired by Judge Thomas Schug now considered it proven that one of them was guilty of withholding and embezzlement of wages in 34 cases, his colleague in 19 cases.
They had not registered their employees or had registered too few hours.
A large part of the wages was paid out illegally – but some former employees also stated that they were still waiting for money.
Those affected were mostly men from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, some of whom slept right next to the pizzeria – against a wage deduction.
But whether they were paid correctly or not is not an issue in court.
It's black work.
Undeclared work at a pizza delivery service: At least 80,000 euros in damage
In its verdict, the jury came to the conclusion that the social security funds suffered an estimated loss of at least 80,000 euros.
Probably more.
As reported several times, the 59-year-old businessman and his 38-year-old colleague from Pakistan were caught after two raids carried out by customs in 2019 and 2020 on the pizzeria's premises.
According to this, undeclared work was systematically used from the start of business registration in 2016.
Even after an initial preliminary investigation, the illegal practice was apparently simply continued.
Undeclared work at pizza delivery service: Former employees informed the authorities
The tip for customs came from a former employee who felt cheated out of his wages.
The man also stated in court that he was later threatened.
He had been warned that it would be better not to testify as a witness.
A former manager disappeared and can no longer be found.
Therefore, only the two men, who have been close friends for years, have to answer for themselves.
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The two defendants had always explained through their defense attorneys that customs had overestimated the necessary working hours.
One of the accused stated in his testimony that he had done nothing wrong.
Undeclared work at a pizza delivery service: the accused considers himself the “most honest person in the world”
He was just "so stupid" to throw away the timesheets.
Otherwise he was "the most honest person in the world," the man stated.
The court did not really believe that.
Customs even set the unreported hours low.
If you follow what some witnesses have testified, you can also come to significantly higher numbers, according to Judge Schug in his verdict.
The court credited the two accused with the fact that they had no previous convictions, but the systematic approach over a very long period of time spoke against them.