German Health Ministry data theft trial begins
January 4, 2018
An external IT expert working for the German Health Ministry is being charged with receiving bribes from a lobbyist working for the pharmaceutical industry to spy on a number of email accounts.
Defendant Thomas B. allegedly paid €26,550 ($32,000) to co-defendant Christoph H. to infiltrate 40 accounts of expert consultants employed at the ministry from 2009 to 2012.
The data gained from the breach reportedly provided Thomas B. with inside information on a number of draft laws and regulations on healthcare issues, giving him an unfair advantage in his business dealings.
Germany is trying to clamp down on corruption in the health sector, but has focused its efforts so far on the relationship between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry and not the role of lobbyists.
Further charges against codefendant
The case against Christoph H. includes a number of further, unrelated charges, according to the news agency AFP. Christoph H. also stands accused of breaking into an apartment block 13 years ago, where he allegedly stole €52,000.
Investigators also reportedly found images of child pornography in his possession.
ss/rt (dpa, AFP)
Editor's note: Deutsche Welle (DW) follows the German press code, which stresses the importance of protecting the privacy of suspected criminals or victims and obliges us to refrain from revealing full names in such cases.