Halle (dpa/sa) - The public prosecutor's office in Halle has filed further charges against the suspended mayor of the city, Bernd Wiegand (independent). He and a former office manager are said to have jointly prepared the spying and interception of data, as the public prosecutor announced on Monday. The two are said to have given an employee on leave of the municipal development and management company Halle-Saalekreis mbH access to the company's data network without authorization and against the will of the then managing director.
The mayor is also accused of making a false unsworn statement in civil proceedings before the Halle Regional Court. The public prosecutor's office further announced that Wiegand had denied the allegations. The second accused has not yet provided any information on the matter. The presumption of innocence applies.
About four months ago, the public prosecutor's office in Halle brought charges against Wiegand in connection with a premature corona vaccination. He and his former office manager were jointly accused of misappropriating embezzlement and falsifying evidentiary data. A spokesman for the regional court in Halle said on Monday when asked about the opening of the corresponding main proceedings. There have been changes of defense and statements, deadlines are still running.
Wiegand had been vaccinated in January 2021, although it is said that it was not his turn yet. After more and more details about the so-called vaccination affair became known, the city council suspended Wiegand in spring 2021. Public prosecutor investigations and disciplinary proceedings at the state administration office followed.
