"Useful for the enemy"

British sure: Ex-Wirecard boss was a Russian spy!

New accusations against former Wirecard manager Jan Marsalek. The Austrian-born manager, who is currently on the run from justice, is suspected by British investigators of being part of a spy network for Russia.

As reported by Der Spiegel on Tuesday, Marsalek is suspected by Western security authorities of having financed and directed an agent ring in the UK from Russia.

Acts also committed outside the UK
The British Crown Prosecution Service published a statement on Tuesday. According to the court document, the 43-year-old "conspired between August 30, 2020 and February 8, 2023 to gather information directly or indirectly useful to an enemy and therefore prejudicial to the interest and security of the state". The acts also took place outside England and Wales.

Marsalek is said to have played a central role as an intermediary between Moscow and a group of Bulgarians who are facing trial in London as suspected Russian spies. An initial hearing was scheduled to take place on Tuesday at Westminster Crown Court in London.

Marsalek: key figure in multi-billion dollar accounting scandal
The former Wirecard CFO and native Austrian is considered a key figure in the multi-billion euro accounting scandal of the collapsed German payment service provider. The former manager is said to have absconded to Russia via Minsk in June 2020, shortly before Wirecard's bankruptcy, with the help of former domestic secret service agents.

In the summer of 2020, the former DAX-listed company collapsed because 1.9 billion euros in alleged proceeds from this third-party business could not be found. Marsalek then fled abroad when the collapse of the group became apparent.

Whereabouts of Marsalek unknown
The whereabouts of the 43-year-old Viennese are still unknown. The German judiciary is demanding Marsalek's extradition from Russia. A request for legal assistance has been made to the Russian government. Before his escape, the Austrian lived in a luxury villa in Munich. His CEO Markus Braun, also Austrian, is currently in the dock in Munich.