A former Wirecard executive wanted for questioning in the investigation into the company's multibillion fraud has died in the Philippines. Christopher Reinhard Bauer died July 27 at a hospital in Manila.
Bauer, who died of natural causes, was cremated a few days later. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Bauer's identity was confirmed to be the same person summoned by the country's National Bureau of Investigation in connection with the fraud investigation. He produced official documents confirming Bauer's death.
Bauer and other Wirecard employees are being investigated in the disappearance of around $2.2 billion from the company's accounts. The German payments company filed for insolvency in June. It falsely claimed the funds were deposited in separate accounts in the Philippines.
Philippines investigators found none of the money had entered its financial system. A transaction, which was tagged as payment for services rendered, was flagged by Philippines officials in 2015. The transaction was a remittance from Wirecard's Asia operations and sent directly to Bauer's account in the Philippines. Both Bauer and his wife were investigated for possible violations of the country's money-laundering laws. Bauer was a former executive of Wirecard's Asia-Pacific business.
Philippines officials said Thursday they had filed charges against two immigration officers. The officers were alleged to have faked records that showed former Wirecard executive Jan Marsalek had visited the country shortly after he was dismissed by the company.
The faked records indicated Marsalek had visited the Philippines on June 23 and then left for China on June 24. Neither closed-circuit TV nor airline records show Marsalek was ever in the country. The faked records were likely to divert attention away from Europe.
Marsalek is currently wanted by Germany's government for alleged involvement in the scandal. He is on Interpol's wanted list. Marsalek's whereabouts are unknown.
