52-year-old must stand trial in Zurich for million-dollar fraud
Published: Monday, Nov 27th 2023, 15:40
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A 52-year-old Swiss man is alleged to have defrauded Zurich University Hospital and two private companies of almost CHF 3 million. On Tuesday, the construction expert and three of his alleged accomplices will appear before the Zurich District Court.
The alleged fraud went on for around seven years - the handcuffs only clicked in September 2015, according to the indictment. The scam, which the man used in different variations, was relatively simple.
While he was working as a project manager for construction projects, he had contractors he knew send him invoices. He then released these for payment. However, the services were never provided. The main accused and his alleged accomplices divided the proceeds of the fraud among themselves.
Canton of Zurich cheated out of 1.2 million
Over the years, he amassed impressive sums of money: He allegedly defrauded the canton of Zurich of around CHF 1.2 million in connection with a construction project at Zurich University Hospital (USZ). He forged his superior's signature several times because he needed it in addition to his own to approve the payments.
He is also alleged to have defrauded a Swiss construction company of just over one million francs using the same trick. A furniture store was defrauded of just under half a million.
Three years imprisonment
The Zurich public prosecutor's office is accusing the accused of multiple fraud, multiple commercial fraud and multiple forgery of documents. They are requesting a prison sentence of three years. However, he would no longer have to go to prison.
Only the ten months he spent in prison after his arrest are to be enforced. According to the public prosecutor, the remaining 26 months will be served on probation. The trial at Zurich District Court is expected to last two days.
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