Marcus Prinz von Anhalt: Court reverses ruling

The 1st criminal division of the German Federal Supreme Court annulled the judgment of a District Court on 16 January 2015 and relegated the case for a new trial to a different division of the District Court.

Marcus Prinz von Anhalt was sentenced to a four year prison term on January 16, 2015 for tax evasion. He successfully proceeded against the sentence with the appeal. Prinz von Anhalt always refused to make a deal with the prosecution, as he thinks he isn`t guilty of an offence. The lawsuit is all about the tax concessions for cars. The other tax criminal charges were dropped already.

After 704 days in custody and months of finding a decision the Federal Supreme Court overturned the judgment of the District Court. There will be a new trial, but this time at another chamber of the first instance.

Prinz von Anhalt said: “I`m in prison wrongfully for two years. I have been sentenced in Augsburg, although the actual tax proceedings are far from being complete. In my opinion it`s purely arbitrary. A scandal!”

The criminal attorney Olaf Langhanki, who represented von Anhalt at the Federal Supreme Court commented the decision: “We always believed that the judgment from Augsburg can not last. Prinz von Anhalt never gave up to fight for his rights. It`s all the more pleasing that the Federal Supreme Court now annulled the sentence and mandated a new trial. ”

Marcus Prinz von Anhalt is now going to appeal against a remand in custody. He hopes to be released from custody quickly and finally be able to see his daughter again.