Engineer charged with money laundering in Germany

[hokus_pokus_brokus]

hello guys I am in a tight corner... i am a currently doing a master in electrical and management engineering and i am about to be charged with 3 cases(or more) of money laundry which happened within a short period of time last year and my lawyer said it could get into my record of good conduct... my question is would it affect my job prospects here in Germany? i should be graduating summer next year with my masters. I just wanted to know what my chances are... (you all can be sarcastic if you want but honestly i am very worried... feeling like my future is doomed )

 

[fresh_42]

Normally employers do not request a background check (except places like airports and similar critical locations), so probably nobody will recognize. On the other hand, some HR managers surf the internet for potential candidates, and you won't be able to keep your name out of the news, even if only the local. For a future company to hire you, this is a serious problem, as it would affect the company as a whole. This leaves you with two possibilities: play ouvert or hide it? There is a chance you can hide it, but if it should be discovered later on, it could cost you the job. I would in any case ask a lawyer, whether you are supposed to reveal it in a job interview or not: voluntarily or if asked. In my experience it is better to play with all facts on the desk.

In the end you can hope for a minor sentence, IIRC two years and on parole are the margin here, in which case you will be lucky.

 

[StatGuy2000]

To the OP:

I am not from Germany and so am unfamiliar with your country's laws in this regard (I would hope that PF members from Germany can weigh in here), but money laundering is a very serious criminal charge, and which in North American countries like Canada or the US can lead to potentially severe legal penalties (including lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines).

Given the serious nature of the criminal charges, if you were convicted of these charges, yes, it could have serious repercussions on your ability to find employment in many sectors regardless of what country you are seeking employment in.

It is not the job of PF to provide legal advice, but I would strongly recommend you to speak to your lawyer about this and all other issues related to your charges and carefully weigh in his/her advice.

 

[berkeman]

hello guys I am in a tight corner... i am a currently doing a master in electrical and management engineering and i am about to be charged with 3 cases(or more) of money laundry which happened within a short period of time last year and my lawyer said it could get into my record of good conduct... my question is would it affect my job prospects here in Germany? i should be graduating summer next year with my masters. I just wanted to know what my chances are... (you all can be sarcastic if you want but honestly i am very worried... feeling like my future is doomed )

I am not from Germany and so am unfamiliar with your country's laws in this regard (I would hope that PF members from Germany can weigh in here), but money laundering is a very serious criminal charge, and which in North American countries like Canada or the US can lead to potentially severe legal penalties (including lengthy prison sentences and hefty fines).

Looks like Germany is cracking down on money laundering, for a number of good reasons...

https://www.occrp.org/en/27-ccwatch...-money-laundering-agency-gets-needed-overhaul

 

[Vanadium 50]

In the US at least - don't know about Germany - it is a huge difference between being charged with a crime and convicted of a crime. The former usually has no penalties. The latter has serious implications in finding a job, particularly if it led to jail or prison.

 

[diogenesNY]

In the US, if you are a member of FINRA (www.finra.org) the governing association of the (non-bank, non insurance industry) financial industry, even being _charged_ with a financial crime or a crime involving a 'breach of trust' requires a public disclosure filing and can be an effective bar to many jobs and opportunities.

I suspect that there are similar requirements for banking and insurance, as well as other professions, including ABA affiliated attorneys and Certified Public Accountants.

diogenesNY

 

[johanw]

I worked once in Germany in a job that required a ertificate of conduct (F\"urungszeugnis). What I understood from it, it contained all convictions of the past 5 years, only heavy crime (murder, terrorism, child abuse) of the last 20 years and war crimes never expire. But most employers outside certain areas (finance, justice, security) probably won't ask.

 

[mfb]

This leaves you with two possibilities: play ouvert or hide it? There is a chance you can hide it, but if it should be discovered later on, it could cost you the job. I would in any case ask a lawyer, whether you are supposed to reveal it in a job interview or not: voluntarily or if asked. In my experience it is better to play with all facts on the desk.

If the company does not ask about it (in one way or another) why would you bring it up?

Maybe slightly unethical but perfectly legal: Would a job outside Germany be an option? If they ask you about convictions anywhere you still have to mention it (if you get convicted) but some companies seem to only care what happens in "their" country.

Anyway: Ask a lawyer.