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Corruption scandal: Uelzen wastewater association in the sights of the public prosecutor's office
In focus: Investigations against four AZV employees in Uelzen due to alleged corruption and manipulated orders.
Corruption scandal: Uelzen wastewater association in the sights of the public prosecutor's office
The course is being set anew in the Uelzen wastewater association (AZV), because there is a serious corruption scandal there. Four senior AZV employees are suspected of manipulating orders ndr.de reports.... The Verden public prosecutor's office has begun investigations, including into suspected bribery. An anonymous whistleblower had forwarded initial allegations to the public prosecutor's office months ago, but the evidence was initially not sufficient for an official investigation.
However, after intensive evaluations by the audit office since November 2025, new evidence was secured that substantiates the allegations. It is now being investigated whether the four employees caused damage amounting to 400,000 euros through incorrect billing. Above all, a system that made it possible to award orders with a price premium of up to 30 percent arouses mistrust. In this context, contracts with a total value of 3.3 million euros were awarded directly to a specific company without a tender. It remains unclear where the additional funds went.
The background to the affair
In response to the allegations, the association's board of directors suspended the affected employees in November 2025. The alleged manipulations could have spanned a period of eight years az-online.de adds.... Interestingly, an earlier investigation against an employee of the association and another accused was discontinued in February 2025 because the suspicions were not confirmed. The AZV leadership was not informed about the discontinued investigation at this point when they contacted the police in 2025.
The central charges relate to the split invoices for pump systems and wastewater pipes, which were used to circumvent legal requirements for the procurement process. This approach not only caused financial damage, but also shed light on the control mechanisms within the association.
The call for reform
Corruption is a buzzword that is often heard in the political landscape. Loud bpb.de it is often understood as an abuse of public power for private gain. In this case, one could speak of a serious form of mismanagement, which undermines not only the finances of the AZV, but also the public's trust in the transparency and integrity of public institutions. Corruption is a universal phenomenon and also affects our local bodies, a topic that is difficult to grasp because often no one has an interest in addressing it.
Martin Feller, the chairman of the wastewater association, has already emphasized that such machinations should have no place in his house. However, it remains to be seen whether the mechanisms to combat corruption and increase transparency will be sufficient to prevent such scandals in the future. Current scandals in other areas have already given rise to calls for stricter anti-corruption regulations.
Overall, the situation at the Uelzen wastewater association remains tense. The developments show once again how important independence and transparency in administration are in order not only to maintain but also to strengthen citizens' trust in public institutions.