Investigation against Tengelmann boss over missing brother
Published: Thursday, Apr 11th 2024, 19:01
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In 2018, Tengelmann CEO Karl-Erivan Haub disappeared in the Swiss Alps. Now the public prosecutor's office in Cologne is investigating his younger brother for possible false statements.
The public prosecutor's office in Cologne has initiated preliminary proceedings against the head of the Tengelmann Group, Christian Haub, on suspicion of making a false affidavit. The investigation relates to the disappearance of the former head of the Group, Karl-Erivan Haub, in the Swiss Alps. Christian Haub rejects the accusation.
Senior public prosecutor Ulrich Bremer told the German Press Agency on Thursday: "Based on a criminal complaint filed, the allegation is being investigated that the brother of the missing man, Christian Haub, made an affidavit before the Cologne District Court in May 2021, which was partially false. Among other things, the criminal complaint stated that the accused - contrary to his statements - had reliable evidence that the missing Karl-Erivan Haub could still be alive." The investigation is ongoing. "Express reference is made to the presumption of innocence that applies to the accused."
To clarify, the public prosecutor's office pointed out that there was no reason to apply for the declaration of Karl-Erivan Haub's death to be revoked. This would require it to be established that the missing man had survived the declaration of death. "This is currently not the case," Bremer emphasized.
Christian Haub's lawyer Mark Binz rejected the accusation of incorrect information. "Of course there is nothing to the accusation," he said. "That was also the view of the Cologne public prosecutor's office until a few weeks ago and they therefore refused to open an investigation."
Karl-Erivan Haub, one of the richest Germans, set off alone on a ski tour in Zermatt in April 2018 and did not return. The family assumes that the then 58-year-old had a fatal accident on the Klein Matterhorn. Haub was declared dead by the Cologne district court in 2021. Since then, there have been repeated media reports about doubts about the death of the experienced skier. However, the court did not consider them to be substantiated.
After the disappearance of Karl-Erivan Haub, his younger brother Christian took over the sole management of the billion-dollar retail group, which includes the textile discounter Kik and the DIY chain Obi.
©Keystone/SDA
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