Dialogos

From Attorneys-in-Fact to Accused: Funds Misappropriated from Heirs

Published January 14, 2026, 10:02
From Attorneys-in-Fact to Accused: Funds Misappropriated from Heirs

Two individuals were sentenced to immediate imprisonment and a company was fined in an appeal court ruling involving the theft of over €41,000. The case concerned the sale of a property in Pissouri and the management of the estate of a deceased foreign owner. The two company directors were sentenced to five months in prison without suspension, while the company was fined €5,000. The case originated with the purchase of a property by Gerhard Wolfgang Arnold Ewert in 2011, but the transfer was never completed in his name. After his death, the heirs authorized one of the company's directors to proceed with the sale of the property to third parties. The net amount of the sale (€50,000 minus taxes and debts) was to be paid equally to the two heirs. However, the amount was received and deposited into the company's account, but the heirs never received it. Instead, almost the entire amount was withdrawn in cash, mainly by one of the two directors, and the company was placed under administration. The Court emphasized the seriousness of the case and the abuse of trust. The lack of genuine remorse and the delay of almost ten years in the administration of justice reinforced the gravity of the case. The Court, taking into account the criminal record and the age of the accused, decided to impose immediate imprisonment in order to send a strong deterrent message to society.