Trial adjourned
Trial started: German TV star on trial
"Currywurstmann" Chris Töpperwien had to answer to the Wiener Neustadt regional court on Monday - the German reality TV star is accused of having paid for private purchases with company money, among other things. He denied all allegations. The trial was postponed until the end of August due to the questioning of another witness.
The allegations are connected to Grill Heaven GmbH, based in Vösendorf (Mödling district), of which Töpperwien was the managing director. The accused is alleged to have paid for private purchases with company money in 2021, among other things. The trial began with great media interest.
Payments via company account
Töpperwien was accused of making payments - for example in DIY stores or online - via the company account or company card. In the opening statement, the public prosecutor spoke of 18 attacks. According to the indictment, the 50-year-old is also alleged to have given work orders to employees for private purposes, such as rubble and bulky waste disposal. Another accusation concerned the outsourcing of social media activities, which were allegedly covered by his employment contract. The 50-year-old is also alleged to have misappropriated items belonging to the limited company, including knives, barbecue spices and charcoal. The company, which is active in the barbecue trade, has joined the proceedings as a private party with more than 8800 euros.
Defense lawyer: "Patschert", but "far removed from criminal law"
Even if the procedure was "clumsy", "we are a long way from criminal law", said the defense lawyer. Töpperwien denied the allegations and described them as "almost unbelievable". He had used moving boxes bought in a DIY store for his move and then returned them "undamaged", he reported. Products such as building materials, switches, cleaning products and a garden hose had been used for the barbecue school and the roof terrace at the company's site in Vösendorf, "something was always being built". Employees helped him with the move, but this was done outside working hours.
Only found out about erroneous payment via complaint
In two or three cases, he had mistakenly selected the wrong payment option, so that the company account was debited. On one occasion, he "transferred the amount immediately". He only found out about another erroneous payment in the criminal complaint.
Regarding the accusation of embezzlement, Töpperwien stated that he had paid for the knives. He had given or sent barbecue spices and a knife sharpener to people for social media postings. He had used products such as barbecue charcoal or a spatula for Instagram stories. Regarding allegations in connection with invoices via his US company, the defendant explained that this was how his current wife was to be paid for her work at Grill Heaven GmbH. Töpperwien was dismissed at the end of November 2021.
"Clear embezzlement" for managing director and shareholder
Several witnesses who worked for Grill Heaven GmbH in 2021 were questioned. One managing director and shareholder described transfers to the USA as "clear embezzlement". There had been no agreement on remuneration for Töpperwien's partner. The defense presented WhatsApp messages relating to an alleged agreement. The witness denied that these messages came from him. The defendant himself had been hired for social media.
Business had demonstrably declined
"Thanks to Mr. Töpperwien, we were on the verge of insolvency," said the company boss. Business had demonstrably declined, the German reported, among other things, about staff shortages. Employees had been afraid and told him that they had been put under pressure by Töpperwien. This was in contrast to other witness statements made on Monday.
One witness, who was working in the office at the time, had initially noticed an outgoing invoice to America when checking the accounts, "which was a bit strange". When questioned, Töpperwien said that it was remuneration for his current wife's social media activities.
Purchased products could be seen on Instagram in Töpperwien's house
The employee had subsequently compiled a list of receipts that formed the basis for the ad. The witness said that purchases such as a garden hose or grout were not used for the barbecue school or the roof terrace. Other products had been seen on Instagram stories in Töpperwien's house. The defendant had not paid for a knife and fees for bulky waste disposal in cash - as he had stated - and there were no corresponding receipts, witnesses said.
Up to three years in prison
On August 26, another shareholder of the GmbH is to be questioned about an alleged agreement to pay Töpperwien's wife. If found guilty, the accused faces up to three years in prison.
Töpperwien became known through the format "Goodbye Deutschland! Die Auswanderer" on VOX and his participation in the RTL "Jungle Camp" in 2019. The 50-year-old, who emigrated to the USA, was arrested in Germany on the basis of a European arrest warrant and extradited to Austria. He was released in exchange for lenient measures.
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