22nd Day of Trial in the Case Against Michael Ballweg – Bank Representatives Testify on Account Closures

Account Closure Due to Image Concerns – Volksbank Untertürkheim

The first witness was the press spokesperson of Volksbank Untertürkheim, who appeared with a legal counsel. During the hearing, account opening documents and the account closure were examined.

According to the witness, the account was closed because customers had lodged complaints with the bank. In response, the bank decided to terminate its business relationship with Ballweg to prevent potential reputational damage. When asked whether public or state authorities had influenced this decision, the witness initially remained silent for an extended period. After consulting with his legal counsel, he finally stated that no such influences had occurred.

Regional Affiliation as a Reason for Closure – Kreissparkasse Böblingen

The second witness, a business division manager from Kreissparkasse Böblingen, testified at 1:30 PM. Here, too, account opening documents and the closure decision were reviewed.

The witness stated that the account was closed because Michael Ballweg’s foundation was based in Darmstadt, and the associated AG was registered in Switzerland. Since there was no regional affiliation with Kreissparkasse Böblingen, the bank decided to terminate the business relationship.

Defense’s Assessment of the Hearing

Attorney Reinhard Löffler criticized the banks’ reasoning: "The closure of these accounts was apparently based on vague arguments. Particularly noteworthy was that the Volksbank witness stated that in his 47-year career, this was the first time customers had demanded the closure of another customer’s account."

Attorney Hans Böhme considered the testimony largely irrelevant to the actual charges against Ballweg: "These witness statements were, in my opinion, completely unnecessary. There were no findings relevant to the prosecution’s case."

Ballweg: A Trial Without Tangible Results

Michael Ballweg commented on the duration of the trial and resource allocation: "We have now had 22 trial days, and still, nothing concrete has been presented. The account closures were based on image concerns and internal bank policies, not on legally relevant matters."

He pointed out that the hearing yielded limited substantive findings: "The hearing began at 9:00 AM, the first witness testified until 10:30 AM, followed by a three-hour break. The second witness testified until 2:00 PM, concluding the trial day."

Outlook on the Upcoming Trial Days

Next week, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, a police officer will testify as a witness regarding the income of QUERDENKEN-711. On Thursday, February 27, 2025, Ballweg’s tax advisor will be called as a witness to explain the financial calculations and the determined losses of QUERDENKEN-711.