The Berlin General State Prosecutor's Office has indicted former RBB director Patricia Schlesinger on embezzlement-related charges tied to the RBB scandal, with several other former leaders also facing charges.

The defendants include Schlesinger, the former administrative director (now 67), the former legal director (now 53), and the former chair of the administrative council (now 81.

Co-accused include the former chair of the RBB supervisory board (13 counts), the former legal director (six counts), and the former administrative director (five counts), alleged to have acted as co-perpetrators in varying configurations.

rbb says it supported the investigation from the start and will continue to cooperate, without commenting on case specifics.

The presumption of innocence applies until a final verdict is reached.

Investigators also cite improper costs, including 2022 allowances for the ARD chair and the misclassification of private hospitality as station expenses.

The court did not rule on Schlesinger's role in the Digitales Medienhaus project, which was separated for a separate trial and reportedly caused multi-million-euro damages and raised procurement questions.

The scandal spurred public debate over how the Rundfunkbeitrag is used and whether governance controls at public broadcasters are sufficient, prompting states to tighten governance in state treaties.

Broader significance: The case accelerated scrutiny of funding and governance of public broadcasters in Germany, with states tightening contract regulations.

Authorities allege misuse of the broadcaster's assets and note an official process has begun, with updates expected as the case develops.

The narrative portrays a system that bypassed checks and balances for personal gain, undermining trust in RBB and public broadcasting.

Background from 2022 includes nepotism and waste, such as lavish company cars, luxurious offices, charged meals, travel costs, and opaque leadership allowances, contributing to leadership changes.