Wirecard fraud trial enters final phase in Munich

The Munich trial concerning the Wirecard billion-euro fraud scandal is entering its concluding stage. After nearly four years of proceedings, presiding judge Markus Födisch announced that the defense for former CEO Markus Braun and two co-defendants will be granted a final two-week deadline to submit new evidence requests. This deadline is expected to be announced on November 11.

If no further evidence requests are submitted, the court plans to proceed with the prosecution's closing arguments and sentencing recommendations. While specific dates for the closing arguments and the final verdict have not yet been set, the trial is moving toward its resolution.

The case stems from the 2020 insolvency of Wirecard, triggered by the discovery that €1.7 billion in reported assets could not be located. Prosecutors allege that Braun and his accomplices fabricated revenues over several years to deceive lending banks, estimating the total fraud damage at approximately €3 billion. While former manager Oliver Bellenhaus has supported the prosecution's claims, Markus Braun has denied all allegations throughout the trial.