[ad_1]
The Zurich prosecutor’s office filed charges against the former head of Raiffeisen, Pierin Vincenz (64), according to the financial portal “Inside Paradeplatz” on its website. A confirmation for this is not yet available. The “Tages-Anzeiger”, which refers to several people involved in the process, speaks of the accusation that was presented on Tuesday.
More than two years after his release from custody, Vincenz is likely to be charged with, among other things, unfair management. The process is expected to take place next year. Much is at stake for the Public Ministry, says the finance portal: “Perhaps that is why they keep their noses upright. Lawyers for the defendants cannot yet provide any information. “
In the last two years, the Zurich Prosecutor’s Office carried out extensive investigations against Vincenz and other suspects. Including Beat Stocker (60), former head of the credit card company Aduno, or against Vincenz’s wife, Nadja Ceregato (49), who rose to management as Raiffeisen’s chief attorney after Vincenz left. The presumption of innocence applies to all suspects.
Acquisitions of companies in focus
Vincenz was in custody for a total of 106 days from late February to mid-June 2018. One of the reasons for the long investigation period is said to be the sealing of documents. Only when the prosecution managed to open some of the documents did the investigation regain momentum, which now leads to the indictment.
That should be in the indictment: These are basically company takeovers by Raiffeisen and Aduno, in which Vincenz and Stocker are said to have gotten rich, that is, they allegedly exploited their positions in management or on the board of directors to do business on your own. The Vincenz Case was initiated by a criminal complaint by Aduno. This referred to Aduno’s purchase of Commtrain Card Solutions (CCS) in 2007. We must be in a hurry, because this case is about to expire soon.
In 2007, the credit card company Aduno bought Commtrain Card Solutions (CCS). What no one at Aduno knows except Vincenz and Stocker: They both have a stake in Commtrain through another company, so they benefit from buying or selling the company they started themselves. Aduno’s criminal complaint refers to the suspicion of an unfaithful commercial agency. Aduno pays 7 million francs for CCS, of which 4.2 million goes to Vincenz and Stocker. Vincenz receives 1.7 million francs.
In 2011, Raiffeisen is watching Investnet, a funder of SMEs. This is intended to support promising SMEs with loans that make them eligible for an IPO. The sale negotiations were conducted for a time by intimus Stocker de Vincenz, who also acquired a private stake in Investnet. Ultimately, Raiffeisen seizes 60 percent of Investnet, paying the two founders of the company 20 million Swiss francs each. 5.8 million Swiss francs flow from the founders into Stocker’s pockets. This pays Vincenz 2.9 million francs, supposedly as a loan for the purchase of a house in Ticino. The suspicion: Investnet paid too much, among others, Vincenz and Stocker have benefited.
The Eurocaution and GCL cases
Eurocaution and GCL are other acquisitions of Aduno companies, some of which were driven by Vincenz as Chairman of Aduno. Stocker participated in Eurocaution, allegedly both Stocker and Vincenz in Genève Credit & Leasing (GCL). It is said that the two took advantage of the sales, for which the prosecution accuses them of unfaithful management.
Vincenz was a talented expense gentleman. Visits to the Red Lips strip club in Zurich were apparently billed as expenses. If Vincenz can be shown that certain expenses and payments served his personal needs and not a business purpose, then the former Raiffeisen boss has another criminally relevant problem.
