Copper recycler Aurubis reports fraud trial result

Copper recycler and smelter Aurubis has published a press release with the verdicts in the company’s precious metals theft trial at Hamburg District Court

No-one is named but Aurubis says the main defendant was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison while a former employee was jailed for three years and six months. All other co- defendants were given penalties of up to four years.

EUR 10 million damage

Judges are said to have set damages amounting to around EUR 10 million. The offences are said to have taken place in 2020. Aurubis reported having been the target of criminal activities in June 2023. The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Hamburg Police Department investigated the involvement of former and active employees, along with employees of contractors working on the factory premises.

Organised crime

Aurubis ceo Roland Harings, who is leaving the company later this year, says: ‘We welcome this clear and consistent action from the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the judiciary against this case of organised crime.
‘The partly long sentences reflect the severity of the crimes and are sure to act as a deterrent to potential copycats in the future. The police and Public Prosecutor’s Office had our complete support. It was also important to us to identify the underlying structures and shot callers.’ Aurubis is building a new security area at its Hamburg plant to integrate its entire precious metals processing chain.

READ THE PRESS RELEASE