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German parliament to investigate government failure over Wirecard

Prosecutors suspect top former executives, including former Chief Executive Markus Braun, of commercial fraud and market manipulation

More details have emerged in recent weeks showing that government agencies had ignored red flags about Wirecard for years before the fintech's collapse in Europes largest accounting fraud in decades. Photo by Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images)
More details have emerged in recent weeks showing that government agencies had ignored red flags about Wirecard for years before the fintech's collapse in Europes largest accounting fraud in decades. Photo by Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images) Photo: Getty Images

BERLIN—German lawmakers said late on 1 September they would launch a parliamentary probe into the government’s failure to uncover the Wirecard scandal, a setback for Chancellor Angela Merkel’s administration ahead of next year’s general election.

More details have emerged in recent weeks showing that government agencies, led by securities regulator BaFin, had ignored red flags about Wirecard for years before the fintech company’s collapse in Europe’s largest accounting fraud in decades.

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