Combating corruption in Berlin - track record with dark sides according to LKA numbers

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Korruptionsbekämpfung in Berlin – Erfolgsbilanz mit Schattenseiten Auf dem Papier sieht die Bilanz der Korruptionsbekämpfer in Berlin ganz passabel aus: Hunderte Urteile gab es in den vergangenen Jahren, wie aktuelle Zahlen zeigen. Doch die Statistik zeigt auch, warum das Dunkelfeld wohl deutlich größer sein dürfte. Bei Berlins Korruptionsjägern dürfte das Jahr 2018 noch lange in Erinnerung bleiben. Damals deckten sie Fälle von Bestechung und Vorteilsnahme im Volumen von insgesamt gut 24 Millionen Euro auf. Das meiste davon wechselte in bar den Besitzer, 40 Amtsträger waren involviert, und in der Mehrzahl der Fälle flogen diejenigen auf, die bestechen wollten. Das geht …
Combating corruption in Berlin - Significant record with dark sides on paper, the balance sheet of corruption fighters in Berlin looks very passable: there have been hundreds of judgments in recent years, as current figures show. But the statistics also show why the dark field should be significantly larger. In Berlin's corruption hunters, 2018 should be remembered for a long time. At that time, they covered cases of bribery and benefit in the volume of a total of a total of 24 million euros. Most of them changed in cash, 40 officials were involved, and in the majority of cases those who wanted to bribe flew up. That works … (Symbolbild/MB)

Combating corruption in Berlin - track record with dark sides

On paper, the balance of corruption fighters in Berlin looks very passable: there have been hundreds of judgments in recent years, as current figures show. But the statistics also show why the dark field should be significantly larger.

The year 2018 should be remembered for a long time for Berlin's corruption hunters. At that time, they covered cases of bribery and benefit in the volume of a total of a total of 24 million euros. Most of them changed in cash, 40 officials were involved, and in the majority of cases those who wanted to bribe flew up. This emerges from figures from the State Criminal Police Office, which the legal policy spokesman for the left faction, Sebastian Schlüsselburg, has asked the Senate.

The statistics reveal exciting details of Berlin's fighting in Berlin. So many attempts at bribes are still quite spontaneous, without long preparation: in 2022 the case known in 16 out of 38, while in 12 cases the relationship between bribes and the owner dragged on for a longer period of time, between one month and two years. "In contrast to other areas of tort, there are only perpetrators in connection with corruption crimes," said the LKA. "A victim of the deeds - such as a competitor or the authority of a broken employee - usually do not notice."

Most of the time, according to the investigators, it is about obtaining competitive advantages or the contract for orders. The perpetrators particularly come from the service and construction industry, and mostly bosses do not hold their hands, but employees at the management level. Case full of banknotes apparently lose attractiveness: in 2022 cash was only used in 27 percent of the corruption cases discovered, work or services were more popular. There are also apparently invitations to events or catering offers.

as much as you are investigated as to the suspect, in 2022 it was 38 - so little can be said from the statistics of the corruption female about the true extent of the problem. Because the LKA also admits that: "Due to the favorable structure of the crime and the low risk of activity, a large dark field can therefore be assumed."

From 2013 to 2022 there were around 180, sometimes sensitive judgments against convicted corruption criminals, including 89 fines and 28 prison terms without probation. This emerges from figures from the Berlin General Prosecutor's Office, which are available to the RBB. However, the statistics also show that numerous cases are hired - albeit occasionally against payment of a punishment. The public prosecutor's office does a good job, according to the right -wing expert of the LEFT, Keyburg: "It is difficult to prove the deeds so that they are sufficient for an indictment."

He therefore demands even more staff for the law enforcement authorities - and the use of artificial intelligence in administration. "We can already see in the area of ​​performance management relatively well where there are conspicuous bookings." But this must be consistently expanded, according to Schlüsselburg.

How complicated and tedious it is to get from the first suspicion to the accumulation, shows the latest report by the Berlin corruption officer. According to this, 158 new proceedings for corruption reference were made to the public prosecutor in 2022, but at the same time only 13 cases after some long investigations were brought to court. 86 cases never saw a judge, they were hired by the public prosecutor because the persecution of the lawyers would not have paid off - sometimes because of a too low damage, sometimes due to lack of evidence.

This cannot be seen as evidence that the capital may not have a problem of corruption at all, says Jiri Kandeler from the anti -corruption association Berlin. "On the contrary: I would say there is a lot of corruption here." Because offenses such as bribery and the like would hardly be noticed because it is not systematically checked. The many confidants and corruption officers at the state and district level "never catch anyone, says Kandeler.

Instead, the whistleblower would depend, which keep getting the stone rolling. Kandelers at least partly agree with the LKA: Most of the insights go back to police work, but Whistleblower has given a significant part of the decisive information in recent years - significantly more often than the affected areas themselves. "If you have a struggle for corruption, we do not need any whistle," says Kandeler: "It is actually a certificate of poverty."

The Senate Department for Justice