Among those convicted, a former material tester received a six-year prison sentence for fraud, bribery, and tax evasion, while a scrap dealer was sentenced to five years and his son to two and a half years for their roles in the scheme.

The Hamburg Regional Court has sentenced three defendants to lengthy prison terms for their involvement in a fraud scheme that manipulated scrap metal at Aurubis, a prominent copper manufacturer.

The fraud was uncovered following unusual bank transactions in the tester's account, which triggered a money laundering investigation.

Aurubis, which specializes in purchasing electronic scrap to recover copper and other precious metals, reported total losses exceeding 15 million euros due to the fraudulent activities.

The fraudulent activities involved manipulating metal content and falsely representing materials to gain financial advantages.

The defendants were found guilty of selling manipulated scrap metal to Aurubis at inflated prices between April 2012 and August 2016, with the prosecution alleging that the materials inspector had even sprinkled samples with gold and silver powder.

In response to the verdict, Aurubis emphasized the seriousness of the crimes and its commitment to combating fraud, especially after suffering other criminal activities that cost the company around ten million euros.

The sentences imposed on the defendants closely aligned with the prosecution's demands, which included lengthy prison terms, while the defense attorneys sought acquittals.

During the trial, the judge noted that several witnesses had identified irregularities, supported by photographic evidence showing discrepancies in the quality of the delivered scrap.

The defense for the 64-year-old former material tester plans to appeal the ruling, arguing that the evidence of actual financial loss to Aurubis was insufficient.

This case has drawn significant attention due to the scale of the operations and the substantial impact on Aurubis, a major player in the metal industry.

The verdict in this high-profile fraud trial was announced on April 28, 2025, marking a significant moment in the ongoing battle against fraud in the metal recycling sector.