German prosecutors on Friday opened an investigation into far-right lawmaker Maximilian Krah in connection with bribery by China and money laundering.
Krah is a member of the German lower house of parliament, or Bundestag, where his party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), is the second-biggest force.
The allegations relate to his previous mandate as a member of the European Parliament.
A preliminary investigation in connection with alleged Russian payments linked to Krah is still pending, the Dresden prosecutors’ office said.
The aim of the China-related investigation is to determine whether there is “sufficient cause to bring charges or whether the proceedings should be discontinued,” the prosecutors said.
Prosecutors have asked for his immunity from prosecution to be lifted.
Krah wrote on X that the accusations were “absurd and politically motivated.”
In essence, he argued, the issue was about the fact that he had invoiced clients as a lawyer.
“Of course I have not committed any criminal offence. This is purely about defamation of character,” he wrote.
Maximilian Krah attends the constituent meeting of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) parliamentary group in the German Bundestag. German prosecutors on 29 April charged former aide of far-right German politician and European Parliament lawmaker Krah with spying for Chinese intelligence. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa
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