Deutsche Bank co-CEO, 4 others face charges

Friday, September 19, 2014, Vol. 38, No. 38

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Prosecutors in Germany have brought charges against Deutsche Bank co-CEO Juergen Fitschen and two former CEOs in connection with what prosecutors say were misleading statements in a court case.

The Munich prosecutor's office said Fitschen, Rolf Breuer and Josef Ackermann were charged with attempted serious fraud over statements during a lawsuit brought by media mogul Leo Kirch, who died in 2011.

Kirch accused Breuer of contributing to the 2002 bankruptcy of his company by saying in a TV interview that banks would not lend it any more money. Deutsche Bank settled with Kirch's estate in February by agreeing to pay 775 million euros ($997 million).

A court must decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial.

Two others were charged with making false statements.