• Germany edition
Society
Photo: DPA

Bus driver 'made €200,000' on fake tickets

Published: 19 Nov 12 17:50 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20121119-46261.html

A Munich bus driver appeared in court on Monday to face charges of forging monthly public transport passes and selling them, raking in around a quarter of a million euros.

The 30-year-old, who was not identified, admitted to the Munich regional court that he stole from work the special paper that the tickets were printed on, along with the software used to print the authentic passes, Die Welt newspaper reported.

And with the help of his wife - as well as a friend, his wife and her mother - they sold them at €10 less than the actual price – earning at least €244,000 from their illegal enterprise, the court heard.

The tickets resembled those valid on the Munich transport network (MVV). He was employed by the company which ran the buses used in the system.

Back in 2011, the defendant was handed a suspended sentence for forging travel tickets. This time, though, it appeared unlikely that he would get off as lightly.

The paper said his accomplices would probably not be sent to jail and instead were likely to be put on probation. The court was expected to deliver a verdict on Wednesday.

The Local/jcw

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

18:48 November 19, 2012 by raandy
Ya , OK ,he has an inside tract , abused his employer , and gets a cake walk, score one for justice.
01:33 November 20, 2012 by Berlin fuer alles
LOL. Well done but shame you got caught. Obviously this did not get noticed for some time which shows how much attention they are paying to affairs. Is it any wonder trains break down in winter.
12:09 November 20, 2012 by gkh50
If he offers to pay the VAT, I am sure that they will let him off. If does not pay, then that is it. Off to the gallows old boy.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Obama in Berlin 2013
Photo: DPA

Nuclear cuts top Obama's Berlin speech

President Barack Obama said Russian and US nuclear weapons should be slashed by up to a third in a keynote speech in front of Berlin's iconic Brandenburg Gate in which he called for a world of "peace and justice." READ () »

Photo: DPA

Dentist cut off own finger for insurance cash

A German dentist who was so desperate for cash that he cut off his own finger for the insurance money has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to a year in prison to be served on parole. The man said he was the victim of an attack. READ () »

The Local Zeitgeist
Photo: Kate Ferguson

'Michelle is more popular than her husband'

The Local met a colourful crowd gathered to glimpse First Lady Michelle Obama in Berlin on Wednesday - from the Dutch man who came all the way to Germany to see her, to the commuter annoyed to find his way to work barred by police. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Germany home to one million millionaires

Germany has the third highest population of millionaires of any country in the world, and according to a study released on Wednesday, their piles of gold are growing faster than the world economy. READ () »

The Local’s movie listings
Photo: DPA

New in German cinemas: ‘Monsters University’

Find movies playing in English in Germany with The Local’s cinema guide. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Bahn feels heat as cooling systems fail

With temperatures creeping up into the high thirties on Wednesday Deutsche Bahn said broken air conditioning systems could see train cancellations across the country. The network is still battling to get back on track after the floods. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Centre-left SPD party plummet in polls

It's been a tough few days for Social Democrat chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrück. At the weekend he made headlines for crying at a party event and just three months before the election, support for his party is at an all-year low. READ () »

The Local List
Photo: DPA

Six famous American quotes about Germany

Barack Obama follows JFK and Ronald Reagan in his Berlin speech on Wednesday. Can he match being a Berliner or calling for Gorbachev to tear down that wall? The Local List has six other famous US quotes about Germany. READ () »

More Society
RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
Highlights
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Karamba Diaby hopes to become the first black member of the Bundestag this September, making him our German of Week.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
'I come to Germany for prostitutes - it's like Aldi.' An American tells The Local about coming to Germany three times a year to visit brothels.
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
The Local List: Nine weird German weather phenomena
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
As Germany contends with historic flooding, Tagesspiegel's Robert Ide argues that money has been wasted on trying to contain rivers with concrete, rather than giving them vital space.
Photo: Private
SOCIETY »
Germans might not know it, but they desperately need the moral guidance of a re-instated royal family, says the great-great grandson of the last Kaiser, Prince Philip Kiril of Prussia.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Americans have had a love affair with Heidelberg since Mark Twain visited the city. Matthew Luxmoore reports on the impact of the US Army's imminent withdrawal after 68 years.
Photo: DPA
SCIENCE & TECH »
Germany's longest word Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragung sgesetz is no longer.
Photo: wikipedia
LIFESTYLE »
German cuisine is far more inventive than most people realize. Ever had "Fake Rabbit" or "Lost Eggs" for dinner? The Local List serves up some of the more colourfully named dishes.
Photo: Private
LIFESTYLE »
'Young cancer sufferers have specific problems'. Survivor Friederike Kaup tells The Local about why she wants to set up a shared flat for chemotherapy patients.
Photo: Private
OPINION »
Are Germans ready to elect a Jewish chancellor? UK journalist David Crossland has written a novel exploring racism and neo-Nazi violence in Germany. The Local has excerpts.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
The German language has some rather colourful terms for describing parts of the human body. Turn to The Local List this week for a few anatomical alternatives.
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
Germany is the most popular country in the world!
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Harmless pink fun or a bad influence on young girls? A life-size Barbie dream house attraction opened in Berlin to protests including a topless woman burning a doll in effigy.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
It might be politically toxic, but it's time to hit the brakes on Germany's reckless driving culture, argues The Local's Ben Knight.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Confused about the hundreds of euros missing from your pay packet? Don't panic - the latest in The Local's JobTalk series looks at German social security payments.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Is that your Handy ringing? This week's Local List takes a look at 12 misused English words in German.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
What are the hidden rules of etiquette foreigners need to watch out for while doing business in Germany? The Local's JobTalk series has tips for keeping on the right side of your colleagues.
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
All of The Local's 'Germans of the Week' so far
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
Every town and city from The Local's My Germany series
Monster/jobpilot.de
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Eighty per cent of Germans apply for jobs online
Furniture Leasing Corporation
SPONSORED ARTICLE
The furniture-free way to relocate to Germany
Photo: Henrik Trygg/imagebank.sweden.se
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Top five reasons to enrol on an Executive MBA
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Germans of the Week are the thousands of volunteers helping to sandbag against rising floodwaters.



Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Sweden

More news from Sweden at thelocal.se

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

886 jobs available
582 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
  • Germany's Guerilla Knitters
    A tree in a sweater? A statue wearing mittens? A sign post with a scarf? Guerilla knitters are brightening urban spaces in Germany with a new kind of graffiti.
  • The Best of Germany: Städelschule
    At the heart of Frankfurt’s art scene is a school that has attracted many international art students to Germany. The Städelschule has a reputation for a high level of instruction and for nurturing students working at the forefront of conceptual and experimental contemporary art.
  • US President Obama in Germany
    The American President Barack Obama visits Berlin.
  • Hollywood Stars Filming in Germany
    Hollywood stars such as George Clooney, Cate Blanchett and Oscar award-winner Geoffrey Rush are making films in and around Potsdam.
  • Design Festival in Berlin
    Creative young designers from around the world showcase their work at the DMY International Design Festival at Berlin’s former Tempelhof airport.
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
Little house in Spain
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Albatross Insurance
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.