Hayford Amedji-dela Anyidoho

In a significant development in Germany’s battle against financial crime, Cologne’s Chief Public Prosecutor Brorhilker has announced her departure from the judiciary. After a decade of relentless investigations into the largest tax scandal in German history, known as the Cum-Ex files, Brorhilker has submitted her resignation, effective at the end of next month.

Brorhilker led a specially established main department currently investigating over 1,700 suspects. Her decision follows growing frustrations with the handling of financial crime in Germany. In an interview with WDR, she voiced her disillusionment with the existing justice system, remarking, “The small fry are hung out to dry, while the big fish get away.” This statement reflects a profound critique of how wealthy and well-connected offenders often evade prosecution by settling cases with fines.

Brorhilker’s resignation highlights the challenges faced by financial crime investigators. Her critique underscores the need for a more comprehensive political response and stronger enforcement of laws to combat such offenses more effectively.

The seasoned jurist plans to continue her fight against financial misconduct with the non-governmental organization “Finanzwende”. Her departure from the judiciary marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new chapter in her professional life, still dedicated to combating financial crime.

Previously, she was embroiled in a public dispute with North Rhine-Westphalia’s Justice Minister Limbach, who had plans to split her department and appoint an additional head. However, these plans were shelved after public discussion.

Brorhilker’s exit from the judiciary underscores the urgency with which Germany needs to rethink and strengthen its approach to fighting financial crime, ensuring justice is served for both the “small” and the “big” alike.

Sources/further Details

https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/deutschlands-wichtigste-cum-ex-ermittlerin-brorhilker-verlaesst-justizdienst-108.html

https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/mehr-wirtschaft/cum-ex-chefermittlerin-wirft-ueberraschend-hin-scharfe-kritik-an-der-justiz-19671025.html

https://www.wiwo.de/my/unternehmen/dienstleister/anne-brorhilker-die-cum-ex-starermittlerin-waehlt-den-heldinnen-notausgang-/29766800.html


https://www1.wdr.de/mediathek/video/sendungen/video-exklusiv-interview-cum-ex-chefermittlerin-spricht-ueber-ihre-kuendigung-100.html

https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/anne-brorhilker-cum-ex-ermittlerin-verlaesst-staatsanwaltschaft-a-b87cf5ed-cf9f-453b-9100-c35d1b215049