37th Day of Trial – Secret Briefing on House Search Revealed

Pre-Search Briefing with Authorities – Without Disclosure to the Defense

According to the witness, the meeting took place about a week before the search. A protocol documenting it exists but has neither been included in the investigation file nor submitted to the defense. The prosecution admitted the document exists but declared it “not relevant.”

“It’s not the prosecution who decides what’s relevant — it’s the court. We will file a motion for full disclosure of the protocol, including a list of attendees,” said attorney Dr. Reinhard Löffler.

In previous hearings, witnesses from the police and tax investigation office had claimed they could not recall any such pre-search meeting. Today’s testimony casts serious doubt on those earlier statements.

Ralf Ludwig: Prosecution Denies Court a Fair Basis

Attorney Ralf Ludwig sharply criticized the prosecution’s approach:

“It’s becoming increasingly clear that the prosecution is trying to withhold critical information from the court. This trial is continuing only because both the court and the defense insist on full transparency.”

Ludwig emphasized that the Stuttgart Regional Court had already rejected the indictment in October 2023. The case was nevertheless opened by the Higher Regional Court — despite an evidentiary situation that still fails to prove a crime.

Ballweg Announces Tax Transparency Campaign

Michael Ballweg also addressed the conduct of the Stuttgart tax office, in addition to the ongoing criminal case. The court had urged the tax office to process his records promptly — but no response has been received. The regional tax authority has also remained silent.

“I’m currently assembling a tax advisor team — and I will publicly report on the conduct of the tax authorities. This will be part of a new podcast series,” Ballweg announced.

Outlook

The next court date — and the only session in June — is scheduled for June 5, 2025. After that, the trial will pause for several weeks. The defense expects further developments, especially concerning the role of the tax investigators, who are scheduled to appear again in July.