More than two years ago, the public prosecutor’s investigation against the celebrity chef became known.
(Photo: imago images / Future Image)
Munich, Düsseldorf Munich celebrity chef Alfons Schuhbeck (72) has been charged with tax evasion. His spokesman confirmed this on Wednesday. The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” had previously reported on it. The Munich I public prosecutor’s office did not want to comment on tax secrecy.
Schuhbeck’s spokesman told the German Press Agency: “Unfortunately, I cannot give you any further statements about the procedure.” According to Heller, Schuhbeck also does not want to comment on the allegations. If the charges are admitted, the chef will face a lawsuit.
More than two years ago, the public prosecutor’s investigations into suspicion of tax evasion against Schuhbeck became known. In connection with this, his business premises were also searched. “I will work very closely and very openly with the authorities to rebut all allegations,” said the cook at the time. He is “available to the authorities in all questions and answers”.
Schuhbeck is one of the most famous chefs and restaurateurs in the republic. He has cooked for the Beatles and Charlie Chaplin, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Queen – and again and again for FC Bayern Munich. His name is a brand. He built up a network of companies with three restaurants, a catering service, an ice cream parlor and spice shops.
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In July of this year, however, it became known that Schuhbeck’s empire was in financial difficulties. He filed for bankruptcy and justified this with a lack of government aid in the wake of the corona pandemic. “After the state aid that had been announced so full of me, I have to file for bankruptcy for my companies,” said Schuhbeck at the time, according to a message that was headed “The next corona victim”.
Schuhbeck said at the time that he had hoped for government financial aid and invested private money in his company until the very end. “But now it’s over.”
However, according to information from the Federal Office of Justice (BFJ), Schuhbeck had not published any annual reports since 2017. Since this violates the disclosure obligation stipulated in the Commercial Code for several types of companies, the Bonn authority initiated administrative fine proceedings, as the BFJ announced on request shortly after the insolvency proceedings became known.
Fine proceedings in summer
In the summer of the Federal Gazette, the balance sheets of “Schuhbeck’s Holding GmbH & Co. KG” and “Schuhbeck’s Partyservice GmbH and Co. KG” for 2017, 2018 and 2019 were missing.
The fine is usually a minimum of 2500 euros and a maximum of 25,000 euros. A considerable sum could have been raised at Schuhbeck by now.
The celebrity chef was convicted of tax evasion 25 years ago. One year probation and a 250,000 D-Mark fine was the verdict in 1994 after Schuhbeck brokered investments in his restaurant that were based on a fraudulent pyramid scheme.
More: After bankruptcy: unnamed investors save Schuhbeck