Wirecard: The German Payment Processor with Ties to Russian State
In a stunning revelation, investigative journalist Paul Murphy has uncovered extensive ties between former Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek and the Russian state, including alleged involvement in deploying Russian mercenaries into Libya.
A Web of Connections
According to sources close to Murphy, Marsalek’s friends described him and another individual, Oliver Braun, as leading “very normal lives” despite their involvement in shady business dealings. However, during one of Murphy’s lunches with Marsalek, he suspected that another diner was running countersurveillance, and the executive paid his bill using a gold credit card.
Extensive Russian Connections
Marsalek’s connections to Russia were extensive:
- He had a 597-page immigration dossier monitored by the FSB, Russia’s primary security service.
- His office in Munich was decorated with Russian military hats and matryoshka dolls depicting past centuries of Russian leaders, from Lenin to Putin.
- He mingled with far-right politicians who held openly pro-Russia views and became paying members of the Austrian-Russian Friendship Society.
Deployment of Russian Mercenaries
Marsalek and Braun also facilitated the deployment of Russian mercenaries into Libya. They cleared a cement plant of explosives and posed for photographs with a banner reading “We are not angels, but we are here.”
Official Russian Government Documents
Murphy was given a stack of official Russian government talking points by Marsalek, which raised doubts about the British investigation into the Skripal poisoning. The documents also contained the chemical formula for Novichok, a deadly nerve agent developed decades earlier by Soviet military intelligence.
Wirecard’s Financial Scandal
Wirecard’s market capitalization reached $28 billion in August 2018, but it was later revealed that the company had been involved in widespread fraud and deceit. Markus Braun, who owned 8% of the company, took out a personal loan of $150 million using his Wirecard shares as collateral. Marsalek allegedly defrauded the company of tens or hundreds of millions of euros.
The Company’s Collapse
The company’s collapse has left thousands of employees jobless and many more wondering how such a massive fraud could have gone undetected. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what other secrets Wirecard may hold.
Key Takeaways
- Jan Marsalek had extensive ties to the Russian state.
- He was involved in deploying Russian mercenaries into Libya.
- Wirecard’s collapse has left thousands of employees jobless and raised questions about how such a massive fraud could have gone undetected.