Scandal in the Lüchow-Dannenberg district: Illegal naturalizations uncovered!

Scandal in the Lüchow-Dannenberg district: Illegal naturalizations uncovered!

A corruption scandal is causing a stir in the Lüchow-Dannenberg district. The district administrator has announced that it will revoke illegally issued residence permits that were given out in exchange for money by a former employee of the immigration office and his accomplices. Those affected paid up to 15,000 euros for the illegal papers. The NDR reports that numerous processes have already been examined and cancellation procedures have been prepared. The prerequisite for cancellation is a legally binding judgment.

A look at the most recent court decisions shows that the 31-year-old ex-employee and his 32-year-old accomplice, a former bar operator, were sentenced to long prison terms. The clerk received six and a half years in prison for bribery and taking advantage, while his accomplice has to serve nine years, with an earlier sentence for extortionate kidnapping being taken into account in the decision. According to that mz.de The two had to pay back a total of 154,000 euros that they had earned from their illegal business.

A hub of corruption

From January 2022 to June 2023, the clerk illegally issued residence permits and citizenships in 16 cases. In doing so, he ignored fake documents and, for example, falsely represented people from southern countries as Ukrainian war refugees. The machinations became apparent in autumn 2022 when two applicants voiced their complaints because their residence permits were not valid despite payment.

This scandal, which also affects the second employee who has already been convicted of data manipulation, has far-reaching consequences. The district administrator points out that the internal review of legality goes beyond the cases charged in court and that possible illegal naturalizations are also examined. According to Section 35 of the Nationality Act, such naturalizations can be revoked if they are considered unlawful.

Looking into the future

The defense attorney for the 31-year-old ex-employee has already announced an appeal, which could prolong the entire process. Each individual case must be thoroughly examined and not all residence permits will be revoked. For some of those affected, this could mean that they lose their German residence permits and may have to leave the country.

In any case, this case shows how important the integrity of public administration is. The scandal has not only legal dimensions, but also human dimensions, as it has a strong impact on the fate of the people affected. A thorough investigation is required in order to prevent such misconduct in the future.