Overview
- In the first hearing, the judge dismissed the computer‑sabotage charge due to evidentiary problems and scheduled a verdict for April 30.
- Weingarten’s lawyer admitted the money‑laundering allegations on his behalf and said he provided a Berlin company that moved the funds. He added that his client did not profit and believed the money came from lawful software sales.
- Prosecutors say the scheme mimicked tech support: an online ad led to malware, a pop‑up froze the computer, a hotline number appeared, and callers were sold software packages priced at €199 to €549.
- The indictment lists 469 fraud counts and 44 money‑laundering counts tied to about €148,000, with an alleged Ukrainian handling the tech and an Israeli running a call center in Turkey who are being pursued separately.
- Saxony’s Jewish regional association publicly rejected Weingarten’s claim to the title Landesrabbiner, saying only Zsolt Balla holds that role and noting his self‑founded group is not under Germany’s central Jewish council.