The Munich I District Court has sentenced Joachim Wolbergs, the former mayor of Regensburg, to a prison term of two years and six months. The court followed the prosecution’s request and found Wolbergs guilty in nine cases of accepting benefits. Due to the lengthy proceedings lasting around ten years, four months of the sentence are considered already served.
Wolbergs appeared visibly shocked by the verdict. During the explanation of the ruling, he remained motionless. The court established that Wolbergs was aware that a Regensburg real estate company sought to buy his goodwill as mayor through party donations and support for renovation work.
In total, around half a million euros in donations flowed from the company’s environment to Wolbergs’ former SPD local association before and after the 2014 municipal election campaign. Additionally, the company assisted in renovating his apartment and a holiday home, with the construction management not being charged. The court was convinced that Wolbergs knew this support was intended to secure his goodwill.
The presiding judge emphasized that strict rules apply in public service. He compared the situation to a teacher who must consider whether to accept a box of chocolates. Wolbergs was not as naive as he portrayed himself, the judge stated. In his favor, the court considered the lengthy proceedings and the associated health consequences.
Wolbergs’ defense attorney, Peter Witting, announced plans to appeal. He expressed disbelief over the outcome of the proceedings and criticized the judges, whose bias requests during the trial had failed.
