In the trial of a large-scale fraud with incorrectly billed corona tests, the Bochum district court sentenced an entrepreneur to six years in prison.
The 49-year-old defendant finally admitted that he had billed significantly more so-called citizen tests at his numerous test centers in the Ruhr area and in the Rhineland than had actually been carried out.
The court estimated the amount of damage caused to the federal government at around 24.5 million euros in the judgment on Friday.
"The accused acted with a self-service mentality that is second to none," said presiding judge Michael Rehaag in the verdict.
The 49-year-old's company started the corona tests in March 2021 and did not do proper accounting from the start.
It was therefore clear to the man that the numbers that he finally submitted for billing were not correct.
However, the court also emphasized in its verdict that the defendant, after initially denying it, finally showed visible insight and remorse.
In addition, according to the current state of affairs, more than 17 million euros in damage compensation can be paid by the end of August.
The proceedings against the son of the 49-year-old, who was originally accused, had already been discontinued against payment of a fine.
The verdict is not yet legally binding.