Three SPD politicians in focus: Clinic affair leads investigators to the Bundestag

Three SPD politicians are being investigated by investigators. Now rooms in Berlin and Hanover are being searched. At the center is a former clinic site in Lehrte.

A spokesman for the Hanover public prosecutor's office told the German Press Agency that 33-year-old Ahmetovic is being investigated on charges of aiding and abetting anti-competitive agreements in tenders in conjunction with violating trade secrets. (Archive image) Photo: Michael Brandt/dpa

Hanover/Berlin. The investigation into a former clinic site in Lehrte near Hanover leads to the Bundestag: After the immunity of SPD MP Adis Ahmetovic was lifted, investigators searched his parliamentary office and three apartments in Hanover and Berlin.

The public prosecutor's office also confirmed for the first time the connection between the measures against the 33-year-old and the tender for the site. Former regional president Steffen Krach and the resigned SPD parliamentary group leader Stefan Politze also play a role in the investigation.

A spokesman for the Hanover public prosecutor's office told the German Press Agency that the 33-year-old is being investigated on charges of aiding and abetting anti-competitive agreements in tenders in conjunction with violating trade secrets. The authority did not initially explain what specific actions Ahmetovic was accused of. Ahmetovic denied the allegations through his lawyer. The noise and police also protested their innocence.

Bundestag office and three apartments affected

Two apartments in Hanover and one in Berlin were affected, the spokesman said. The parliamentary resolution allows the execution of judicial search and seizure orders against Ahmetovic. This emerges from the Bundestag printed matter. The document does not contain any information about the allegations or the rooms affected. It was initially unclear whether the decision was related to the already known investigations in Hanover.

According to the public prosecutor's office, investigators also visited the SPD on Odeonstrasse in Hanover. They were told that Ahmetovic didn't have an office there. A search therefore did not take place here. Ahmetovic's constituency office in Hanover was also not affected by the measures.

Ahmetovic: “Nothing to blame”

Ahmetovic is co-chair of the SPD in the Lower Saxony state capital. After the investigation became known, he had a message from his lawyer distributed. It said on October 8th that Ahmetovic had nothing to blame himself for. The defense assumes that the accusation will be completely dispelled.

In a new statement, the lawyer announced an appeal against the search warrant. “This measure is unlawful,” he said. The searches were “superfluous and completely disproportionate”. The accusation is incorrect. The defense has already offered comprehensive cooperation, but so far all access to the files has been refused. The professional and personal damage to his client is disproportionate to the accusation.

In response to a dpa request, the SPD Hanover emphasized the presumption of innocence for its co-chair. "As the SPD, we would like the allegations to be clarified quickly. Only on this basis can any possible conclusions be discussed." The city association did not comment on internal party discussions and possible search measures.

The investigators also focus on noise and politics

On September 9th, eleven days before the Berlin election, the Hanover public prosecutor's office confirmed that it was investigating Krach. At that time he was the SPD's top candidate in the capital. A day later, the authorities announced the allegations: There was an initial suspicion of acceptance of benefits in two cases. Another case involves possible anti-competitive agreements in tenders in conjunction with a violation of trade secrets and a violation of a duty of confidentiality.

The public prosecutor's office initially confirmed the investigation against Ahmetovic without mentioning the allegations. At the time, she justified this with “investigational tactical reasons.” With the information about the searches, it is now known for the first time which allegations against the Bundestag member are being investigated.

Krach describes paying back a donation

Regarding the allegations, Krach explained that there was a bidder who was his favorite in the sale of the clinic site in Lehrte. As regional president, he was chairman of the supervisory board of the Hanover Region Hospital (KRH). At the end of December last year, the entrepreneur donated 9,900 euros to the Berlin SPD. He was informed about this on January 7th. The morning after, he ordered the transfer back. The money has been paid back, said Krach.

Neither privately nor as Berlin SPD chairman did he accept a donation from this company. He also didn't allow himself to be influenced. Another applicant was awarded the contract for the clinic site. Krach explained that he abstained from the vote.

Politze resigned as parliamentary group leader

On October 2nd, the public prosecutor's office also confirmed investigations against the then Lower Saxony SPD parliamentary group leader Politze. When asked repeatedly, the authority left it unclear what this was about. However, his lawyer made a connection with the allegations against Krach. Politze has since resigned from the leadership of the parliamentary group. He stated that he was convinced of his innocence.