Between 2009 and 2015, Schuhbeck is said to have evaded around 2.2 million euros in tax money. A court in Munich sentenced him to imprisonment.
The famous chef Alfons Schuhbeck in court in Munich
(dpa) Star chef Alfons Schuhbeck looks battered this Thursday morning. Dark circles under the eyes, the movements erratic, the look nervous. No wonder, since it is the last day of his criminal proceedings for tax evasion in the amount of more than two million euros. In the afternoon, the fears of the 73-year-old were confirmed: the Munich I district court sentenced him to three years and two months in prison. No parole, as his attorneys had previously requested in their pleadings. In addition, the court ordered the confiscation of around 1.2 million euros.
«High criminal energy»
The presiding judge Andrea Wagner certified that Schuhbeck, who is also known from television programs, had a high level of criminal energy, with which he is said to have evaded around 2.2 million euros in tax money between 2009 and 2015. In the “Orlando” restaurant, an average of 600 to 700 euros per day disappeared, said the judge. In contrast, there were no bills in the “Südtiroler Stuben”. Individual invoice numbers have disappeared as a result of manipulation.
In his actions, Schuhbeck also used a computer program whose creator was also on trial. The co-defendant was convicted of aiding and abetting tax evasion – and accepted the suspended sentence of one year, as did the public prosecutor’s office.
However, it is still unclear whether Schuhbeck will appeal, and the public prosecutor, who had asked for four years and two months, also kept this step open. “Mr. Alfons Schuhbeck took responsibility in the process and made a comprehensive confession,” said his lawyers. The verdict will now be examined and it will be decided with him whether to appeal.
shown remorse
Schuhbeck himself had in fact shown himself to be remorseful at the end of the process. “I know what I did was wrong,” he said in the last word. He can no longer change that, but can try to repair the damage and take responsibility for his actions.
Until shortly before the verdict was announced, Schuhbeck’s lawyers had tried to reach an investor who had actually promised to pay the millions in compensation for Schuhbeck’s damage. A fact that could have had a positive impact on sentencing. But the money didn’t arrive.
Instead, the defense attorneys referred to their client’s lifetime achievements. He is a gifted cook and incomparable master in handling spices. “That has concerned Mr. Schuhbeck,” said defense attorney Sascha König. He completely forgot about the commercial side, instead he only ever opened shops, restaurants or spice shops. “That’s what ultimately failed him,” said the lawyer. “I stand before the ruins of my life’s work,” said Schuhbeck in his confession on the second day of the trial. “If I could undo it, I would do it immediately.”
The judge Schuhbeck did not count a lack of commercial skills. “Handling the till never has anything to do with a commercial error,” she said in the verdict. In addition, the financial damage is very high, on which the state and thus the citizens are probably left sitting. Therefore, she had no choice but to impose a prison sentence.
The court rated Schuhbeck’s confession as positive – albeit with limitations. According to the comprehensive testimony of his co-defendant, Schuhbeck felt compelled to make a confession in order to collect bonus points, as the judge put it.
Cooking shows withdrawn
However, Wagner did not only draw the cook as a bad criminal. During the trial, she read a letter that Schuhbeck employees had written to the court asking them to be lenient as far as possible. The employees wrote that he was also a “tough dog” when it came to service. At the same time he has the patience of an angel and always has an open ear. «You could rely on him. We would hate to lose our boss, our Alfons.”
A hope that may not be fulfilled now, even if imprisonment is not likely to take place so quickly in the event of an appeal. Schuhbeck is already feeling a few consequences. For example, Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) removed the restaurateur’s cooking programs from the program one day after his first confession in early October. No further productions are currently planned, according to BR. In addition, Schuhbeck had already filed for bankruptcy for his company last year, although investors soon wanted to take over his empire.