Farmer scandal: 600,000 euros repayment after arson!

Farmer scandal: 600,000 euros repayment after arson!

The Oldenburg Higher Regional Court (OLG) has made a groundbreaking ruling: a farmer from the region was ordered to repay 600,000 euros plus interest to his insurance company. This became necessary after it emerged that the damage for which the insurance company initially compensated was due to arson. The Higher Regional Court decided that the farmer was responsible for the insurance abuse. The decision was made on March 20, 2025 and represents a notable case of criminal and civil copyright law. NDR reports on the background.

The case is not new: there have been repeated fires on the farmer's farm since the mid-1990s. Initially, technical defects were believed to be the cause of the fire, but later investigations raised serious doubts about the farmer's honesty. A fire in the calf fattening stable in 2009 was proven to have been a commissioned arson. In this context, the insurance company paid out a total of 600,000 euros.

Litigation and acquittals

The Oldenburg regional court had previously closed the case due to insufficient evidence, which led to acquittals in the criminal proceedings. However, these acquittals were not reflected in the civil law claims; The free assessment of evidence in accordance with Section 286 ZPO applies here. The civil chamber of the Oldenburg regional court was also unable to establish criminal guilt, but the evidence from the Oldenburg Higher Regional Court clearly spoke in favor of insurance abuse. The farmer caused the fire by hiring a third party and making his own preparations, which clearly exceeded what was legally permitted.

The Higher Regional Court found that the farmer's actions responsible for the fire fell under the provisions of Section 265 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, which punishes insurance abuse. Despite the acquittal in the criminal proceedings, the farmer is now stuck with costs of 600,000 euros and has to pay back the insurance. LTO announces the legal details.

Fraud and security issues

The case highlights the problem of fraud in the insurance industry. As the general legal situation shows, intentionally caused damage often calls into question not only the insurance, but also the safety and integrity of the entire industry. Another example of such cases of fraud can be found in the investigation of arson, as assessed, for example, in the context of representative liability. This shows that the intention behind such acts has serious legal consequences, as well Jura fox reported.

This case is a powerful example of the importance of accurately examining the circumstances surrounding claims in order to prevent abuse and fraud. It remains to be seen whether this decision will have a negative impact on the insurance landscape in the region.