Overview
- Proceedings at the Landgericht München II continue over speculative investments that left the diocese facing large losses.
- Prosecutors charge a real-estate developer with breach of trust and bribery, and the former deputy finance director with breach of trust and taking bribes tied to poorly secured loans.
- Gregor Maria Hanke testified that high-risk investments were made in violation of diocesan guidelines.
- Auditors and an external law firm flagged unexplained gaps in the finances, after which Hanke concluded the money would probably not be recovered and described upheaval in the diocese.
- Responsibility for reserve-asset investments lay with the Finanzkammer under the finance director and his then deputy, while Hanke said he set the framework and had longstanding personal ties to the accused deputy.