The prosecutor noted that the investigation was pursued solely because of the deceased manager. He had hired four managers in the firm's eleven-month existence and had the firm lose more than €1,000 each day.
In proposing sentences, the prosecutor limited his suggested sentences to fines. He argued that the defendants should not be sentenced to prison, as they were used as stooges by the deceased. Despite the man's status as deceased, the prosecutor described him as guilty on three counts. The construction company was founded in July 2015, only to experience losses of €355,000 within its eleven-month life.
At the beginning of the trial, the administrator in the bankruptcy proceedings told the court that he immediately went to visit the firm's headquarters when he was appointed in June 2016. There, he found nothing, not even a letterbox. He explained that he encountered a person at the address who had never heard of a firm being based at this address.
As for the defendants, the administrator told the court he had only met one man, who told him that the female defendant's husband was the manager. He said that he had found traces of 14 employees, whereas in reality, there had been 22. The administrator described the bankruptcy as peculiar due to the lack of documents. A further curious aspect noted by the administrator was that employees used their own tools and cars to get to construction sites.
When the defendants had the opportunity to speak, two affirmed that they had trusted the deceased manager. Another one of the defendants explained that he had been tricked by the manager.
The defence lawyer requested two acquittals and one fine for his clients. The verdict will be proclaimed on 6 June.
