Further Accusation in the Hesse's Awo Complex - Awo Scandal: Former Directors Face 262 Criminal Charges, Millions in Damages
The Awo association, a prominent German social welfare organization, has been entangled in a significant scandal since late 2019. The managing director of the Awo district association Frankfurt and his wife, who served as the managing director of Awo Wiesbaden until 2020, have been accused of a total of 262 criminal offenses, including self-enrichment, fraud, and bribery. The former mayor of Frankfurt am Main, Peter Feldmann, was also convicted of corruption in December 2022.
The scandal involves allegations of sham contracts, unjustified payments, and favoritism. The public prosecutor's office has requested the confiscation of over 2.5 million euros, believed to be proceeds of crime. The accused include Klaus Roth, former managing director of AWO Protect gGmbH, who is accused of embezzlement, fraud, and insolvency concealment related to issuing fictitious and inflated invoices for guarding refugee homes. The trial against the former Wiesbaden social affairs department head Christoph Manjura is due to begin in October. However, a main trial in Frankfurt has not yet been opened. Meanwhile, the city of Frankfurt is suing the Awo district association for the repayment of personnel costs, with hearings scheduled until 2026.
The Awo scandal has resulted in convictions and ongoing trials, with millions in damages already paid and more expected. The full extent of the alleged crimes and the impact on the organization and its beneficiaries are yet to be fully understood as trials continue.
