In the trial of breach of trust, bribery and corruption at the expense of the Fielmann optician chain, the Kiel district court imposed prison sentences, most of which were suspended. The main suspect was sentenced to three years and six months in prison on Thursday. In addition, more than 300,000 euros in value compensation will be confiscated from him. The chamber sentenced the other five defendants to imprisonment of between ten months and two years on probation.

The presiding judge said the charge was commercial gang fraud. For a fraud, however, there is no deception. The chamber assumes that Fielmann's finance department was aware of the way sponsorship campaigns are accounted for.

The background is false accounting for sponsored jerseys and planting campaigns. The public prosecutor had demanded prison sentences of four and three and a half years and suspended sentences. The defense attorneys had applied for suspended sentences or acquittals for their clients.