Export violation: 7 years‘ imprisonment for managing director

On January 9, 2020, the State Protection Senate at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court sentenced a managing director to 7 years in prison for an export violation (Ref.: 8 St 3/19). The managing director had violated the Dual-Use Regulation and the Russia embargo by delivering a so-called hot isostatic press and chemicals to Moscow.

The starting point was an incorrect classification of the export goods by the managing director (on the error in export criminal law see here). The investigation was then triggered by a control notification from the Belgian export control authority to the German Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control BAFA.

Defense team:

Dr. Andreas Karow, Hamburg: Criminal defense

Prof. Dr. Darius O. Schindler, Karlsruhe: export law expert for the defense