German lawyer becomes accidental millionaire

A lawyer in Berlin was helping his client fight a case when he accidentally stumbled upon millions of euros. After a fleeting moment of millionaire glory, he has now found himself in the Berlin courts.

Berlin lawyer becomes millionaire

A lawyer is on trial in a Berlin court after he allegedly skimmed millions off the judicial winnings of one of his clients. The 47-year-old had been representing his client in a case against a music streaming company.

According to the prosecution, after the lawyer won the case his client was awarded 1.481 euros in June 2017. However, when it came to the bank transfer, the streaming company mistakenly added a few extra zeros to their transaction, with the lawyer receiving 1.481.000 euros to the designated bank account.

His client none the wiser, the lawyer then allegedly decided to skim the extra cash off the winnings, taking home millions and becoming one of Germany’s millionaires overnight.

Lawyer bought gold coins with cash

Six months after the fact, employees at the streaming company noticed their ginormous error and sued the lawyer for repayment. Unfortunately for the lawyer, he’d already gotten ahead of himself, having bought gold coins amounting to 120.000 euros, a car for 50.000 euros, a flat and some jewellery. 

In desperation, the lawyer party attempted to conceal the extravagant purchases by handing them over to his wife. But the plot was to no avail, with the couple now co-accused.

Berlin’s public prosecutors are now accusing the man of “five acts of bankruptcy as well as for false affidavit”.