RTL Today - Embezzlement scandal: Spuerkeess representatives to appear before Caritas inquiry commission

The Chamber of Deputies' commission is set to question bank officials on 5 May over alleged financial misconduct by Caritas' former finance director.

Representatives from the Luxembourg State Bank (BCEE, commonly known as Spuerkeess) will appear before the Chamber’s special Caritas inquiry commission on 5 May, marking the first appearance by officials from a bank in the ongoing investigation.

Alongside BGL BNP Paribas, Spuerkeess was involved in the financial transactions through which funds were diverted from Caritas accounts abroad. Both banks had also granted Caritas loans totalling more than €30 million.

The financial misconduct was carried out by the former Caritas finance director, who allegedly transferred funds that led to the theft of €61 million. She is currently under judicial supervision and is believed to have fallen victim to a scam involving a so-called clairvoyant. This individual allegedly passed sensitive information to a criminal network based in Bulgaria.

As part of the investigation, police in Bulgaria and France have arrested nine suspects, who are expected to be extradited to Luxembourg. One person is already in pre-trial detention in Sanem.

In total, authorities have frozen 54 bank accounts in Luxembourg and abroad that were used to funnel the embezzled funds.

The most recent individuals to testify before the commission were former Caritas president Marie-Josée Jacobs, former director Marc Crochet, and representatives of the Archdiocese.

So far, two commission chairs – Christian Social People's Party (CSV) MPs Laurent Zeimet and Stéphanie Weydert – have stepped down. The role has now been taken over by Charel Weiler, MP and mayor of Steinsel.

The commission's work has been extended until mid-June, after which Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) opposition MP Taina Bofferding is expected to present her report.