Ninth Day of Trial in Michael Ballweg Case – Prison Director Sheds Light on Detention Conditions and Tax Challenges

Restricted Access: Limited Resources and Communication

The prison director provided detailed insights into the tools available to detainees, painting a clear picture of the obstacles Michael Ballweg faced:

• No electronic tools: Only pen and paper were available. A calculator or an internet-enabled computer was inaccessible.
• Restricted communication: Ballweg could only meet with his tax advisor through special, pre-approved visits. He met his tax advisor twice in October 2022 but had no access to tax software or electronic records.
• Slow correspondence and monitored communication: Letters took an average of 10 to 14 days (sometimes longer) to pass through prosecution monitoring, delaying both incoming and outgoing correspondence. A full exchange of letters could take up to four weeks.

The director acknowledged that detainees face virtually insurmountable challenges in fulfilling tax obligations, such as filing tax returns. This was particularly true for Ballweg, as essential tax documents confiscated during a house search were not made available to him.

Dubious Tax Allegations under Restrictive Conditions

Critical tax documents needed to complete Ballweg’s tax return were unavailable, and even basic tools like spreadsheet software were not provided.

Attorney Dr. Reinhard Löffler remarked:
"Today’s testimony from the prison director demonstrates that it was impossible for Mr. Ballweg to meet his tax obligations. Using this as the basis for criminal accusations is deeply questionable."

The director confirmed that Ballweg had no access to electronic resources or his confiscated documents during his detention. Furthermore, a confidential conversation with his tax advisor was not feasible. It also emerged that Ballweg’s post-detention tax return, which disproves prior estimates, has yet to be processed.

Attorney Gregor Samimi emphasized:
"This trial day highlights the disproportionate measures taken against Mr. Ballweg. Despite his cooperation and clear intent to fulfill his tax obligations, he faced systematic obstructions."

Conclusion

Today’s revelations spotlight systemic shortcomings in handling detainees in financial crime cases. The case against Michael Ballweg exemplifies how prosecution can impose arbitrary barriers that skew proceedings unfairly.

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