Deutsche Bank co-CEO, 4 others face charges

Prosecutors in Germany have brought charges against Deutsche Bank co-CEO Juergen Fitschen and two former CEOs in connection with what prosecutors say were false statements in a court case.
The Munich prosecutor's office said Fitschen, Rolf Breuer and Josef Ackermann were charged with attempted serious fraud over statements during a lawsuit brought by media mogul Leo Kirch.
Kirch accused then-CEO Breuer of contributing to the 2002 bankruptcy of his company by saying in a media interview that banks would not lend it any more money. Kirch died in 2011.
Deutsche Bank settled with Kirch's estate in February by agreeing to pay USD 997 million.

During testimony, prosecutors said, Breuer made false statements aimed at avoiding monetary damages.
After the court challenged the truthfulness of Breuer's testimony, prosecutors said, the bank made a written submission containing a false statement aimed at supporting Breuer's account.

The five defendants all declared themselves in agreement with the statement, the prosecutors said.
Fitschen was a top Deutsche Bank executive at the time. In May, 2012 he became co-CEO along with Anshu Jain.
A court must decide whether there is enough evidence for a trial. Deutsche Bank said today it could not comment on ongoing litigation, but Fitschen has earlier denied the charges.

Two others, former board chairman Clemens Boersig and a defendant identified as von H, were charged with making false statements.