Berlin Court Upholds Firing of Pension Fund Chief After €1B Loss Scandal
The Berlin Labor Court has upheld the dismissal of Ralf Wohltmann, the former head of the Berlin Dental Pension Fund (VZB). The ruling follows a lengthy legal dispute over his removal, which was linked to high-risk investments causing losses of over one billion euros. However, the decision remains open to appeal and is not yet final.
The court initially declared Wohltmann's dismissal invalid on procedural grounds after the VZB missed a deadline. But a later ruling confirmed the lawfulness of his removal, citing abuse of power and conflicts of interest. Despite this, he will keep receiving his salary until the dismissal officially takes effect on September 30, 2026.
The VZB is now pursuing civil litigation to recover losses. It has filed lawsuits against 12 parties, including ApoBank, auditor Forvis Mazars, the Berlin Senate, and nine former managers. A separate motion seeks to have the Berlin II Regional Court handle the damages case.
Meanwhile, criminal investigations are underway. Berlin's federal prosecutor is examining initial suspicions of bribery involving Wohltmann, though no other individuals have been publicly charged as of February 2026. The Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office is also probing the case for potential corruption and bribery.
Both sides retain the right to challenge the labour court's decision. Further appeals could be taken to the Berlin-Brandenburg Regional Labor Court.
The legal battle over Wohltmann's dismissal continues, with civil and criminal proceedings still active. The VZB's lawsuits aim to assign responsibility for the billion-euro losses, while investigators examine possible corruption. The final outcome will depend on future court rulings and the progress of ongoing probes.
