Markus braun: this is how the interrogation of the ex-wirecard boss went

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Markus Braun focuses on the brown door. Around him cameras click, cell phone cameras are pulled out. Flash in the pan. Braun wears a black turtleneck sweater, over it a black jacket and rimless glasses.

So one knows him. This outfit earned him comparisons as the Austrian version of Apple founder Steve Jobs. Two pioneers of the digital world. But that is the end of it for Braun. The gaunt Viennese walks through the door with quick steps, his gaze directed forward.

But also in the boardroom the as
publicity shy
Son of a teacher couple can't get rid of photographers. Only after a few minutes they have to leave the hall. Braun, however, remains, hands folded. The unpleasant part is still ahead of him.

Wirecard: Braun would have preferred to be questioned by video

For 18 years, Markus Braun was at the helm of the payment service provider Wirecard
. From a small start-up he formed a Dax group. An incredible success story. A success story that was too good to be true
. And which came to an abrupt end when Braun had to declare in June that 1.9 billion euros had disappeared.

On Thursday, Braun now had to for the first time since the scandal came to light
appear in public. The investigative committee on the Wirecard scandal had summoned the social scientist and economist with a doctorate in economics. Braun would have liked to avoid the public eye, offered a Deal
an: He will testify if questioned via video conference. The deputies refused, they wanted to question Braun personally – and the Federal Court of Justice ruled in their favor in summary proceedings.

Markus Braun: "I'm currently living in the Augsburg correctional facility"

The depth of Markus Braun's fall becomes clear from the very first formality. Braun must introduce himself. "My name is Markus Braun, I'm 51 years old, I'm currently living in the Augsburg correctional facility, and I'm an information systems specialist," says Braun, his voice soft, his Viennese dialect resonating.

Since July, the 51-year-old has been in pre-trial detention at Gablingen Prison. The Munich I public prosecutor's office accuses the former Wirecard boss of commercial gang fraud. And actually would not have wanted to let him come to Berlin at all. For with his gaze alone
he could witness intimidate
– that would be "dangerous for the investigation", the "Spiegel" quotes from an internal e-mail of the public prosecutor Hildegard Baumler-Hosl.

Braun sees no unfair behavior by authorities

That gaze fixes on the deputies one by one as the questioning progresses. The blue eyes behind rimless glasses take aim at each questioner, focused, penetrating. But first, the former Wirecard CEO reads out a short statement.

In it, Braun announces that he will cooperate with the public prosecutor's office and make a statement in a timely manner. "In the end, independent courts will decide who bears responsibility for the collapse of Wirecard," Braun reads out in a soft voice. And adds: he had not personally found that "authorities, supervisory bodies or politicians had not behaved correctly, in breach of duty or in any way unfairly".

Even the auditors, whose role is particularly controversial, and the Wirecard Supervisory Board had behaved correctly after Braun's capture, but were "apparently massively deceived
been". Only by whom? From Braun himself? From the fugitive ex-manager Jan Marsalek
?

After the opening statement, Braun stonewalls

That's what the members of the investigative committee are trying to find out in the next few hours. Braun, however, invokes his Right to refuse information
. Again and again. At the same time he does not make a face. He fixes the questioner, listens to the question and tells them he doesn't want to comment further.

The questioning turns into a farce. The deputies are aware that they will not gain any more useful information. So they sometimes show Braun off. "His birthday, after all, you spend with your loved ones. Who did you actually have your 50. Birthday spent?", asks Matthias Hauer, a CDU member of parliament, well aware that Jorg Kukies, the state secretary in the German finance ministry, is working with Braun on his 50. Birthday was in contact.

Hauer also asks if Braun would like to say something about Jan Marsalek – for example, about his whereabouts. Braun shows no emotion, invokes his right to refuse to testify. But it becomes still harder for the ex-Wirecard boss.

Braun is attacked hard

By any means necessary, MPs try to draw him out. This is how left-wing politician Fabio De Masi asks if Braun has a daughter. After Braun does not respond to the question, De Masi goes on to ask whether Wirecard Payments for portals with child pornography content
and whether Braun feels he has made something of his life.

Braun, otherwise mostly motionless, thumps his hands on the sheet of paper on which his statement is written. "I'm not going to comment on the facts here." When De Masi asks again in the course of the interrogation, Braun asks to leave his family out of it.

Deputies continue to pester, Braun is focused, counting how many times questions are repeated. Giving away its secrets mysterious managers
but not this afternoon.

Most reliable cars – the test winners in all categories and price classes

The most durable cars: who could prevail in the tests?

The most durable cars: who came out on top in the tests??

Buying a car is an exciting experience and many decisions have to be made: small car, station wagon or SUV? Which manufacturer and which model? How much horsepower should the engine have? But if you want to get something out of your new car for a long time, you should above all also value the following factor: reliability.

As the best cars in the world for a long time, the GERMAN MANUFACTURERS. They stood above all for down-to-earthness, high quality and value, as well as safety and durability. But this picture is changing, and not just since the VW emissions scandal. Other car manufacturers – especially the asian – have caught up strongly and often offer the most reliable and best cars at a low price.

The choice on the new car market is naturally large and all manufacturers advertise their cars with full-bodied promises. But which car is really the best? Which is the most reliable car brand? How are the tests carried out, that determine which vehicles can be considered the best and most reliable cars?

In our guide you will find all information, so they can approach the car-buying process well informed.

FAQ: best cars

An overview of cars that have been awarded as especially good can be found here.

No, such an assessment is not possible. Because basically, when buying a car, it also depends on individual wishes and preferences.

Various trade journals put vehicles through their paces. In addition, however, the ADAC also looks at reliable vehicles. In addition, the tuV publishes an annual report on which models were found to have particularly low or no emissions in the previous year’s main inspections. Particularly high number of defects.

TuV-report 2021: which car is the most reliable?? – an overview

The following list shows which models in each segment have been named the best and most reliable cars for the year 2021. The data is taken from the TuV report 2021.

Best segment model according to TuV-report 2021defect rate*

smallest cars	opel adam	3.7 percent
small car	audi A1	3.3 percent
compact cars	hyundai i30	2.4 percent
mid-range	opel insignia	2.2 percent
upper middle class	mercedes e-class	3.7 percent
upper class	audi A7	4.3 percent
SUV	mercedes GLC	1.7 percent
sports cars	porsche 911	2.2 percent
van	mercedes B-class	2.2 percent
*the defect rate indicates how many examples of the model in question exhibited significant defects during the main inspection. the average defect rate is 5.5 percent.

What are the best cars? – various tests

To find out which vehicles can be considered the best and most reliable cars, it’s worth taking a look in relevant trade magazines to throw. Test results, which also include long-term inspections, are published here on a regular basis. For new cars of many brands also the ADAC car test interesting, who pays attention to technology, engine and driving comfort. In the following we present you two significant tests.

Best cars according to the AUTO BILD endurance test

Best cars sought: in the test, the vehicles were completely checked out.

In the AUTO BILD endurance test, vehicles in every class, including engine and technology, are put through their paces. In order to determine which passenger cars are the best and most reliable, not only the following tests were carried out driving in city traffic and on the highway on the program. Also the trailer operation is tested. If any breakdowns occur or repairs are needed, they are noted.

After up to 100.000 kilometers, the car is then disassembled by automotive experts. All parts are subjected to an assessment, so that in the end it can be determined which vehicles can be awarded as the best and most reliable cars.

In the current endurance test rankings (as of january 2021), the ateca audi A3 sportback g-tron put at the top. The model, which runs on natural gas, completed the 100th test.000 kilometers without a single failure or damage and received a grade of 1+ from AUTO BILD for this.

Second place goes to the seat ateca 1.4 eco TSI style. The only drawback here was reduced driver comfort on long journeys, but in terms of reliability, the car is tops. Followed by the ateca 1.4 from the VW tiguan highline 2.0 TSI, which owes its two fault points only to less than perfect comfort in the direct-shift gearbox.

What is the best car brand?

The most reliable car brands come according to a study by dekra (german motor vehicle inspection association) from germany. Particularly few defects are found in models from mercedes and audi. Here you can play it safe – but you will also have to pay more.

If you are looking for an inexpensive, reliable car, you should look at kia, hyundai and škoda look around. Many models score highly here due to a particularly good price-performance ratio. And the low-cost manufacturer dacia also offers good cars in this price range. The most reliable car of the Romanian brand is the lodgy.

Best cars according to statista/FOCUS

Best and most reliable cars often come from germany.

To answer the question "which car is reliable?"If you want to know the answer to your question, you can also consult the test carried out by the statistics company statista and the magazine focus. This is a even more detailed investigation than the AUTO BILD endurance test.

To find out which passenger cars are considered the best and most reliable cars in their class, they are different checks compared with each other and their results combined. In addition to the endurance test already mentioned, checks by the ADAC and the verkehrsclub deutschland (VCD) were also taken into account. Furthermore the customer satisfaction an important evaluation factor.

In this test it is often noticed that the most reliable cars are mainly from japan and germany. Among the german brands it should be noted, however, that this is mainly high-priced vehicles acts.

When buying a new car, don’t just look at the price and reliability. Also the additional costs are a factor that should not be neglected. High fuel or insurance costs can break the budget for some car owners. also the car tax should be considered. The amount of the tax to be paid depends primarily on the engine (engine displacement), the exhaust emission standard and the carbon dioxide emissions.

So, if you want to find best cars, you should inform yourself well before you buy and don’t just grab it at the first available offer.

There is a lot of coming and going on Limburg Cathedral Hill these days: directly opposite the cathedral, the new "Diocesan Center St. Peter" is taking up residence. The "St. Nicholas" building is gradually taking shape, the official residence of the Limburg bishop and a meeting place all in one. And the subject of sometimes heated discussions that even made headlines nationwide.

Outraged citizens railed against the bulky and pompous style of the building, and critics spoke of a high-security wing in the style of Fort Knox – until the news magazine "Spiegel" jumped on the bandwagon at the end of 2010, and saw the whole project as an example of an allegedly high-handed and authoritarian course of the Limburg bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst – without making it clear that the decision in favor of the project was made by the bishop of Limburg, Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, that the decision in favor of the project had already been made by the Limburg cathedral chapter at the beginning of 2007 and thus before Tebartz-van Elst took office.

It is noticeable to those responsible that these debates have inflicted many a wound. With a little distance, many accusations can be refuted, as becomes clear during an inspection with architect Michael Frielinghaus and diocesan architect Tilmann Staudt. Almost every large city is faced with the problem of putting historic properties to a sensible use and getting developers to rise to the challenge, explains Frielinghaus. "Against this background, what the diocese is doing here is exemplary." This may sound like self-promotion – but as president of the Association of German Architects (BDA), Frielinghaus should have plenty of opportunities for comparison.

Turbulent and less transparent at Begi
While walking across the roughly 1.In addition, the new site, which covers an area of around 1,000 square meters, makes it easier to understand why the original budget of 5.5 million euros will probably not be met after all. The "unbelievably complex construction measures" of which Diozesanbaumeister Staudt speaks include not only the costly renovation of the "Alte Vikarie" (old vicarage) – a half-timbered house around 500 years old that was temporarily in danger of collapsing – and the former sexton's house from 1904. Also included is an architecturally ambitious new building including a chapel. And all this on a rocky and rugged building site, which is also partially enclosed by a medieval wall of quarry stone.

Archaeologists and preservationists were and are involved in the work, as are craftsmen and subcontractors from the region, who are installing clay clinker from the Westerwald region according to the old model or covering the roof of the vicarage with Mosel slate. The sometimes difficult process can also be seen in a positive light, as architect Frielinghaus sums up: "As the result of interdisciplinary cooperation." Finally, as for criticism of the size or furnishings of the rooms intended for the bishop, those responsible point, by way of example, to 120 square meters of private living space – "without a garden, whirlpool or sauna" – and the 60-square-meter, simply furnished chapel – "more of a devotional room".

So why all the fuss? It is probably related to the initial phase of the large-scale project, which was turbulent and lacked transparency – and also occurred at a time when the diocese was forced to announce massive austerity measures. "Today, such a decision-making process would be communicated quite differently," those involved concede. In addition, the bishop, who calls the project "necessary and right," is not always easy for journalists to reach. Perhaps this sometimes somewhat difficult way of dealing with the public is the real construction site of the diocese.