"The Berlin public prosecutor's office is investigating the CEO of the municipal housing association Degewo. Thies-Martin Brandt is suspected of embezzlement. "We are investigating in connection with a fund-raising dinner in favour of the SPD in August 2001," said Michael Grunwald, spokesman for the public prosecutor's office."
"The public prosecutor's office searched the premises of Degewo on Wednesday. According to Grunwald, the evidence seized proves that Brandt is said to have arranged the payment of a donation of 5,000 marks to the SPD. According to a Federal Constitutional Court judgement from 1992, donations to political parties by publicly owned companies are declared "prohibited donations", said Grunwald. No comment could be obtained from Degewo yesterday. Thies-Martin Brandt could not be reached."
"SPD spokesman Hannes Hönemann confirmed the donation of 5,000 marks. However, it had been intended by Brandt as a "personal donation". However, the treasurer of the Berlin SPD, who was dismissed in 2002, had "unauthorisedly" booked the money as a company donation. This had happened "without the knowledge" of the executive state board. The amount was repaid to Degewo in May and the 2001 statement of accounts was corrected."
"The public prosecutor's office is already investigating former Berlinwasser CEO Thomas Mecke for the election campaign dinner in August 2001. The dinner was sponsored by Berlinwasser Holding with almost 2000 euros. The public prosecutor's office is also investigating Hartmut Mehdorn, head of Deutsche Bahn, in this connection. In a letter of invitation for the dinner with the Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit on 21 August 2001, which is available to the Tagesspiegel, it says: "We would be very pleased to receive your binding commitment, which we combine with an expectation of a donation of 5000 marks for the Berlin SPD..." The election campaign dinner had come to the attention of the public prosecutors as part of investigations into the Tempodrom affair. The dinner was co-organised by former building contractor and Tempodrom supporter Roland Specker. The public prosecutor's office is investigating him on suspicion of granting benefits in connection with an SPD sponsorship in October 2001."
Source: Berliner Tagesspiegel
While the Berlin public prosecutor's office The government has been standing idly by for decades while thousands of Degewo tenants have been deliberately exposed to the risk of asbestos.