Prosecutors demanded a three-and-a-half-year sentence for Roth, while his defense argued for probation, and the administrative manager's defense sought a shorter sentence or fine.

The case also involved illegal surveillance of a journalist, financed through Awo Protect, which the court viewed as misguided loyalty.

The Frankfurt Regional Court has sentenced Klaus R., former CEO of AWO Protect, to two years and nine months in prison for embezzlement, insolvency concealment, and aiding and abetting, with sentences partly served due to lengthy proceedings.

Roth, another former CEO of Awo Protect, received a similar sentence for involvement in a corruption scandal linked to the organization.

The court also sentenced the former managing director of Awo Protect gGmbH to two years and nine months for crimes including embezzlement and fraud, though this verdict is not yet final.

The court found that R. and an accomplice drained assets through inflated invoices and sham employment contracts, attempting to conceal the company's insolvency in 2019, with a fraud amounting to approximately 120,000 euros.

Roth and his former administrative director were implicated in overcharging the organization through deals involving overpriced workwear and fraudulent expenses for an Israel trip.

The Awo scandal in Frankfurt, which began in 2019 over issues like inflated salaries and fake jobs, is nearing legal resolution, with a verdict expected soon.

The trial against Roth started in April 2025, involving extensive evidence and difficult witness testimonies, with the defendant partially admitting to crimes when evidence was presented.

The trial lasted 20 days, longer than planned, due to complex evidence and Roth's confessions, influencing the court's sentencing decision.

Additional investigations are ongoing against other former Awo officials, including ex-CEO Jürgen Richter, with decisions on trial proceedings possibly delayed until 2026.

Klaus R. was convicted of 14 counts of embezzlement, aiding and abetting, and insolvency concealment related to assets misappropriated from AWO Protect in 2017.

A civil lawsuit is ongoing, with Frankfurt seeking around 2.6 million euros from Awo over misconduct, as other criminal proceedings against the management are yet to begin.