Alfons Schuhbeck: He has to stay in prison for Christmas

The former television chef Alfons Schuhbeck (75) has to spend the Christmas holidays behind bars this year too – and apparently without any release. Due to a new charge, the 75-year-old, who has been in custody since August 2023, has had all privileges revoked. This was confirmed by his lawyer Nicolas Stieger. “Because of the new investigation, Mr. Schuhbeck has lost all amenities, such as weekend releases. He is not even allowed to leave prison for an hour at Christmas,” he is quoted as saying.

Stieger also emphasizes that, in his opinion, the Bavarian justice system is treating his client far too harshly. “This is disproportionate to his conviction and the current allegations. There is completely no risk of escape for Mr. Schuhbeck, so for me this is absolutely wrong,” he told the tabloid.

Schuhbeck is currently allowed to receive visitors twice a month, but visits are no longer allowed because of Christmas. Stieger added that, given these circumstances, it was “of course clear” that “Schuhbeck is not doing well.”

In June 2023, Schuhbeck was sentenced to three years and two months in prison for tax evasion amounting to millions. In August of the same year he began his prison sentence in the Landsberg am Lech prison; six months later he was allowed to move to the more open branch in Rothenfeld near Andechs and received relaxations in his sentence, such as release. The former star chef was still allowed to stay in the Rothenfeld prison, but his exemptions were canceled.

The Munich I public prosecutor’s office filed charges against Alfons Schuhbeck on October 14, 2024 – on suspicion of delaying insolvency in nine cases, fraud in four cases, attempted fraud in five cases, subsidy fraud in 19 cases and withholding and embezzlement of wages in 479 cases .

A date for the trial has apparently not yet been set.