Former German Transport Minister Scheuer Faces Trial Over Alleged False Testimony in Toll Scandal

The charges center on testimony given before the Bundestag's toll investigation committee, which examined potential errors by Scheuer after the European Court of Justice struck down the passenger car toll as unlawful in June 2019.

According to the indictment, Scheuer and Schulz made 'knowingly false statements' during their questioning. The prosecution alleges that when asked by MPs whether the toll operators had offered at a meeting on 29 November 2018 to sign the contracts only after the ECJ decision, both claimed they could not recall such a deferral offer, 'contrary to their actual recollection.'

Background of the Toll Scandal

Scheuer concluded operator contracts for the car toll at the end of 2018, before final legal certainty from the ECJ. The toll was a prestige project of the CSU in the then black-red federal government.

The investigation committee began its work in December 2019 and concluded in summer 2021. The public prosecutor's office announced in early May 2022 that it had initiated investigation proceedings against Scheuer and Schulz in April 2022, based on several criminal complaints filed by private individuals.

When the indictment became known in August 2025, Scheuer's lawyer Daniel Krause stated that his client 'firmly opposes' the accusation. The former State Secretary Gerhard Schulz also denies the accusation, according to both the defense and the prosecution.

The court emphasized that the presumption of innocence applies to Scheuer. Under German law, false testimony before a parliamentary investigative committee can carry a prison sentence of up to five years.

Financial Fallout

The passenger car toll debacle resulted in significant financial consequences for the German state. The government had to pay €243 million in damages to the originally intended operators, an amount that resulted from a settlement following arbitration proceedings.

Scheuer resigned his Bundestag mandate in April 2024 and has since founded a consulting firm. His name remains closely associated with the toll disaster, which became one of the most prominent policy failures of the Merkel era.

The ECJ ruling in June 2019 found that the German toll plan discriminated against foreign drivers, violating EU law. The project had been championed by the CSU as a way to charge foreign drivers for using German motorways while offsetting costs for domestic car owners.

The investigative committee spent nearly two years examining whether Scheuer had acted negligently or recklessly by signing contracts before the ECJ ruling. The committee's final report was critical of Scheuer's handling of the project.

Legal Implications

Legal experts note that the case hinges on whether prosecutors can prove that Scheuer and Schulz deliberately misled the committee about their recollection of the November 2018 meeting. Memory-related testimony is often difficult to prosecute.

The admission of the indictment by the Berlin Regional Court means judges found sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. The court will now schedule hearings, which are expected to draw significant public and media attention.

The case represents a rare instance of a former federal minister facing criminal charges related to their official duties. It also tests the accountability mechanisms of parliamentary investigative committees.

Political Context

Scheuer served as Transport Minister from 2018 to 2021 under Chancellor Angela Merkel. The toll project was a key demand of the CSU in coalition negotiations and became a symbol of the party's influence in federal politics.

The damages payment of €243 million was finalized through arbitration after the toll operators, including Kapsch TrafficCom and CTS Eventim, sought compensation for lost business. The settlement was approved by the Bundestag's budget committee.

The trial will likely examine internal government communications and meeting minutes from late 2018, when the contracts were signed despite ongoing legal uncertainty at the European level.