Unlawful Activities in Construction: Business Owners from Halle (Saale) Faced with 3 Years and 8 Months Imprisonment

The Regional Court of Halle has sentenced a 51-year-old businessman from Halle (Saale) to a total prison term of three years and eight months. The businessman, who holds both Serbian and Bosnian citizenship, was found guilty of committing a total of 33 offenses of withholding and embezzling wages.

Investigations by the Financial Control of Black Work Halle (Saale) of the Main Customs Office Magdeburg revealed that the convicted person paid approximately 1.12 million euros in gross wages in cash to unregistered workers from March 2017 to January 2020. This unlawful practice resulted in the withholding of approximately 405,000 euros in social security contributions during the same period.

The businessman had previously fled abroad to avoid the proceedings. He was provisionally arrested in Montenegro based on a warrant and served a prison sentence of approximately 3 months before his extradition. It is worth noting that the businessman was not the owner of the construction company but was the brother who was fully authorized to manage the affairs of the company.

The Main Customs Office Magdeburg has provided updates on this case through their news platform, news aktuell. For more information, you can contact Sebastian Schultz at the Main Customs Office Magdeburg or direct your inquiries to the office itself. The telephone number for the Main Customs Office Magdeburg is 0391 / 5074 - 1206, and their email address for press inquiries is [email protected]. You can also visit their website at www.zoll.de for more information.

The judgment in the case is final as of 30.04.2025. However, it is important to note that the search results do not provide information about the identity of the managing director of the construction company suspected of the wage refusal and fraud investigated by the Magdeburg main customs office.

This case serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to labour laws and paying the required social security contributions. It also underscores the diligence and commitment of the Main Customs Office Magdeburg in ensuring compliance with these regulations.

Unlawful Activities in Construction: Business Owners from Halle (Saale) Faced with 3 Years and 8 Months Imprisonment