In Munich, a Wiesn landlord is on trial because he gave vouchers for chicken and beer to police officers. A process about the question of which gifts are still allowed today.
A Oktoberfest beer and chicken vouchers for the police: What used to be good style for many companies now has a taste – at least. The suspicion of granting an advantage quickly arises. Keyword: «Compliance», good corporate governance.
This Wednesday, the long-standing spokesman for the Wiesn hosts, Toni Roiderer, is on trial in Munich. The public prosecutor accuses him of granting advantages in four cases. The reason: he had given police officers several vouchers for a Wiesn chicken and a beer in his marquee at the Oktoberfest. Total value: 4028.59 euros.
Accused: proceedings “in the minor area”
Roiderer doesn’t deny that at all – but doesn’t see why it should be punishable, as he tells the German Press Agency. He doesn’t even know which police officers ultimately received the vouchers. “I don’t even know the people.” In his opinion, the proceedings against him should have been discontinued long ago – “because it’s trivial”.
He has lodged an objection to a penalty order, “because I am not aware of any guilt,” as he emphasizes. So now it’s up to the district court. According to a court spokesman, a fine was imposed on the police officer who received the stamps “by way of a criminal order for taking advantage”, another Wiesn host, who had also been accused of distributing vouchers, was recently acquitted.
According to Section 42 of the Civil Service Status Act, civil servants – and thus also police officers – may not demand, be promised or accept any rewards, gifts or other advantages for themselves or a third party in relation to their office. “Exceptions require the approval of the employer,” says the Bavarian Ministry of the Interior on request. There were legal consequences. In addition, criminally relevant facts could also be fulfilled – such as accepting an advantage or even taking a bribe.
Not the only process
“The subject of compliance is not a new science,” writes the Munich management consultancy Deloitte in the summary of its 2021 compliance study. “But the constant change and the complexity of business transactions require continuous adjustment of the compliance structures.”
The lawsuit against Roiderer is not the only one that Munich courts are dealing with this week and is about the Oktoberfest: On Thursday, the Higher Regional Court has to deal with the question of whether trading in table reservations “through the secondary market” is permissible or not. The operators of the “Ochsenbraterei” marquee have sued a retailer because he offered reservations to their tent.
Also on Thursday and also at the Munich Higher Regional Court, the view goes into the distance: The court has to deal with the question of whether an Oktoberfest planned in Dubai can also be called that.
