New allegations against former Wirecard manager Jan Marsalek. The Austrian-born man, who is currently on the run from justice, is suspected by British investigators of being part of a spy network for Russia.
As “Spiegel” reported on Tuesday, Marsalek is suspected by Western security authorities of having financed and controlled an agent ring in Britain from Russia.
Also trades outside Great Britain
The British Public Prosecution Service published a statement on Tuesday. Accordingly, between August 30, 2020 and February 8, 2023, the 43-year-old “conspired to collect information directly or indirectly useful to an enemy and thus detrimental to the interests and security of the state,” the court document said. The acts also took place outside England and Wales.
Marsalek is said to have played a central role as an intermediary between Moscow and a group of Bulgarians on trial in London for suspected Russian spies. An initial hearing was due to take place at Westminster Crown Court in London on Tuesday.
Marsalek: key figure in billion-dollar accounting scandal
The former CFO of Wirecard and native Austrian is considered a key figure in the multi-billion dollar accounting scandal of the collapsed German payment service provider. The ex-manager is said to have fled to Russia via Minsk in June 2020, shortly before Wirecard’s bankruptcy, with the help of former domestic secret service agents.
In the summer of 2020, the former DAX group went bankrupt because 1.9 billion euros in alleged revenues from this third-party company could not be found. Marsalek then fled abroad as the company’s collapse became apparent.
Marsalek’s whereabouts are unknown
The whereabouts of the 43-year-old Viennese remain unknown. The German judiciary demands that Russia extradite Marsalek. A request for legal assistance was sent to the Russian government. Before his escape, the Austrian lived in a luxury villa in Munich. CEO Markus Braun, also Austrian, is currently in the dock in Munich.
Source: Krone
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