Former union president may no longer be named in RTL media

CLT-UFA has lost a case in cassation against the former president of the postal workers' union, who received a prison sentence in the early 2000s for misusing union savings to fund his lavish lifestyle. As a result of the ruling, RTL media outlets may no longer publish the individual's name or image in future reporting on the historical case, or any other of the individual's activities in relation to the union.

In 2020, the former union president took RTL's parent company, CLT-UFA, to court in order to restrict future reporting, citing a violation of his privacy. He was successful in two instances and now in the court of cassation as well.

Due to the offences of forgery and abuse of trust, in 2007 the former union president was sentenced to six years in prison with two suspended in the second instance. His name was often published in the media reporting on the case. In his role as president of the union, he initiated an investment fund for members, encouraging hundreds of postal workers to deposit their savings. But he later used the funds to purchase himself a finca in Mallorca, as well as a yacht and expensive cars.

The individual served his prison sentence and the victims received around 90% of their savings back over the years. However, they have not yet been fully compensated for the damage.

The ruling only bans RTL media from reporting the individual's name, while other media outlets may still use it.