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Berlin (dpa) - Representatives of the Bundesbank have distanced themselves in the Wirecard accounting scandal from the controversial Bafin decision on a short sale ban on Wirecard shares.

The departments of the Bundesbank did not see any danger to financial stability that would have justified such a ban, said the department head for financial stability on Friday in the parliamentary committee of inquiry.

A department head had previously made a similar statement.

However, the Bundesbank's statement was not forwarded in writing, but only by telephone to the Bafin.

The two-month short sale ban was issued in February 2019 - it underpinned the alleged victim role of Wirecard for many investors.

Previously, the fintech share price was in considerable turmoil after public allegations of manipulation.

In a previously unique process, the Bafin therefore forbade speculation on falling prices for Wirecard.

The procedure was justified with the threat of market uncertainty.

Bundesbank Vice-President Claudia Buch had phoned Bafin Vice-President Elisabeth Roegele about the planned ban, said the division head in the committee.

Roegele referred to investigations by the public prosecutor in the Wirecard case without giving any details.

The background to this investigation is an alleged blackmail allegation.

The public prosecutor believed a Wirecard lawyer that the scandalous company was being blackmailed out of the media industry.

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As a result of this phone call, the information situation has fundamentally changed, said the division manager.

The Bundesbank was not responsible for questions relating to market manipulation, which is why the statement on the ban on short selling was ultimately not forwarded in writing.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210305-99-702403 / 2