Berlin: Consultant gang convicted - millions and exploitation of migrant workers

Berlin: Consultant gang convicted - millions and exploitation of migrant workers

Berlin, September 27, 2022 - The Berlin district court made a judgment against members of a gang of locks on Friday. The gang is said to have brought more than 1000 people illegally to Germany and have achieved millions of profits. The alleged head of the gang and five other defendants were sentenced to prison terms. The main person responsible received a prison sentence of seven and a half years, and the court also ordered the confiscation of seven million euros in its case, which she had generated it through her illegal business. Another defendant has to move in 3.3 million euros. The judgment is not yet final.

According to the presiding judge, the gang was a "criminal system". Non-EU citizens were smuggled to Germany with fake documents as alleged EU citizens and conveyed to companies. The illegal working conditions of the workers were exploited. They had no claims for vacation and continued wages in the event of illness, but had to bear mediation, transport and accommodation costs as well as fines. Thus, the temporary workers were "disciplined". Due to their difficult living conditions in their homeland, they got involved in these working conditions.

The temporary workers were recruited in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Moldova and equipped with fake EU documents. They were imparted by shams in Baltic states to logistics companies in large food and online retailers in Germany.

In the period from 2018 to the end of 2021, crimes were committed. During this time, sales of 30 million euros were achieved and more than 1000 people were employed across Germany. The non -performance of social security contributions caused a damage of six million euros for the German taxpayer.

In December 2021, the alleged gang was arrested by the police and customs. In a nationwide raid with 2200 police officers, around 50 apartments and offices were searched and million sums were confiscated.

The alleged head of the gang has both the German and Russian citizenship. Among other things, the accused were found guilty of the forgery of the commercial and gangs, the employment of foreigners without a residence permit and on unfavorable working conditions as well as the aid. The highest punishment of seven and a half years was imposed against the alleged head of the gang. A 57-year-old received a prison sentence of four years and eight months, a 44-year-old of three years and eleven months and a 48-year-old of four and a half years. A 63-year-old tax advisor received a two-year suspended sentence for withholding and misappropriating wages.

The judgment essentially corresponds to the applications of the public prosecutor. The defenders had asked for less punishments.