The Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office has formally charged former RBB (Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg) director Patricia Schlesinger and three other former senior executives with embezzlement detrimental to the public broadcaster. The announcement, made Thursday, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing scandal engulfing the regional broadcaster.
The charges center around allegations of inappropriate payments of variable compensation and bonuses distributed between 2018 and 2022. Schlesinger faces accusations stemming from 26 separate instances of embezzlement, with the former chairman of the administrative board implicated in 13 cases, the former administrative director in five and the former legal director in six. Seven of these alleged incidents are classified as particularly severe.
Beyond the variable compensation irregularities, prosecutors are also scrutinizing the legality of early retirement and release arrangements provided to RBB employees, as well as the improper reimbursement of private hospitality and travel expenses incurred by staff. These issues have drawn sharp criticism from political circles and taxpayer advocacy groups, fueling a broader debate regarding transparency and accountability within Germany’s public broadcasting system.
The accused individuals have, through their legal representatives, denied the charges against them, asserting their innocence. The investigation was initiated in August 2022 following the emergence of initial accusations, quickly triggering a wave of public outcry and parliamentary inquiries. While acknowledging the presumption of innocence, the Berlin Public Prosecutor’s Office emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and their potential impact on the integrity of public funds.
The legal proceedings now underway are expected to be protracted and will undoubtedly involve a meticulous examination of financial records and internal protocols. The case has already cast a long shadow over the RBB, raising fundamental questions about corporate governance and the appropriate limits of executive compensation within publicly funded institutions. Observers suggest that the fallout could extend beyond individual culpability, potentially reshaping the structure and oversight mechanisms of Germany’s entire public broadcasting network.
