"Never forget your friends"

Schwarzenegger comforted Schuhbeck in prison

Alfons Schuhbeck (l.) and Arnold Schwarzenegger at the "Weißwurstparty 2018" at the Stanglwirt in Going

(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

 "Arnold never forgets his friends!" Austrian-American superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger called his old friend Alfons Schuhbeck, who is in prison for tax evasion, to comfort him in prison after he was stripped of all privileges due to new investigations.

The "Terminator" Arnold Schwarzenegger (77) and the 75-year-old German star chef have been friends for decades. As the "Bild" newspaper has now revealed, even in bad times Schwarzenegger is said not to have forgotten Schuhbeck, who is serving a three-year sentence in Rothenfeld prison, to which he was sentenced in 2022. His offense: he evaded 2.3 million euros in taxes in his restaurants.

Relief from imprisonment canceled
Relief from imprisonment that had already been granted, such as two days' release per month, was canceled again as new investigations were opened against him, according to the report. The Munich public prosecutor's office is currently investigating whether the Bavarian-born man received coronavirus aid unlawfully. He is also being investigated for delaying insolvency. 

His lawyer Nicolas Stieger told "Bild": "Physically, Mr. Schuhbeck seemed in top shape during my last visit. The new investigations are of course a great burden on him. It's particularly bad for him that his prison sentence has been revoked as a result."

Prominent friends
Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is said to do a lot of reading and sport in prison, is said to have given Schuhbeck some comfort. He is said to have phoned to check on his condition and cheered him up. He is also said to have considered visiting the prison during the Oktoberfest. An insider told "Bild": "Arnold never forgets his friends!"

The star chef is likely to receive frequent visits from celebrity friends. In the summer, it was reported that Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and cabaret artist Monika Gruber had visited him to see if he was doing well.