As of: February 2, 2024 6:36 a.m
Police and public prosecutors searched several rooms at the Volkstheater in Rostock on Wednesday. The reason for this is investigations against management employees. Fraud is suspected.
Several employees of the Volkstheater in Rostock are being investigated for possible irregularities in the granting of short-time work benefits during the corona pandemic. As part of the investigation, several rooms in the theater were searched. According to the public prosecutor’s office, the starting point was an anonymous complaint and witness statements.
Theater sees double receipt of funds as a reproach
During the Corona pandemic, the Volkstheater said it applied for and received short-time work benefits for its employees from the Federal Employment Agency. “When short-time work benefits were used, funds from the Federal Employment Agency were used instead of public funds from the city, according to the accusation,” says a press release from the Volkstheater. The Rostock public prosecutor’s office is now checking whether this was legal. As a municipal company, the Volkstheater continued to receive subsidies from the city and state.
The public prosecutor contradicts the theater’s portrayal
The spokeswoman for the public prosecutor’s office, Manuela Merkel, contradicts the theater’s representation to NDR 1 Radio MV. It’s not about the “double receipt” of funds, but rather the fact that the theater received short-time work benefits but continued to work full-time. Or rather not as shortened as it was presented to the employment agency in the application. Although no performances were given, there were rehearsals. Specifically, the public prosecutor’s office assumes that up to 15 premieres were prepared during this time. The review will take time due to the large number of employees.
Prosecutor: Theater gave false information
The investigation is directed against four responsible management employees on suspicion of fraud. The receipt of short-time work benefits during the Corona period was subject to conditions and the theater did not adhere to these, according to the public prosecutor’s office. The accused knew that this was not legal, said spokeswoman Merkel. The theater provided false information to the employment agency, which led to short-time work allowances being paid without the theater actually having shortened hours of work. At the request of NDR 1 Radio MV, the theater said about the allegations: “The public prosecutor’s office questions whether employees of the Volkstheater were on short-time work at all. This assessment is incomprehensible to us. Operations were clearly shut down for everyone.”
With information from Jürgen Opel.
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NDR 1 Radio MV | News from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania | 01/31/2024 | 17:00 o’clock