Former Wirecard CEO Braun describes pretrial detention as isolating and emotionally draining

The Wirecard case is considered by prosecutors to be the largest suspected fraud in German postwar history, with billions in euros alleged to have been missing from the company's balance sheet. Braun has consistently denied wrongdoing, declaring himself a victim. Prosecutors have identified him as the principal figure in the scandal, along with other former Wirecard managers including Jan Marsalek, who remains at large.

A daily psychological challenge

Braun's account of his emotional state went beyond his family situation. He described the monotonous prison routine as a constant challenge: “Dass man sich nicht emotionalisieren lässt und immer wieder in einen konstruktiven, rationalen Zustand zurückfindet, ist eine tägliche Herausforderung.” Yet he insisted he has not lost his drive. “Ich bin weiter sehr energetisch”, he said, and added: “Ich habe überhaupt keine Zweifel, dass ich in kürzester Zeit wieder etwas Konstruktives machen würde.” Whether he will ever get that chance is doubtful given the charges he faces.

The 55-year-old Austrian-born former manager has been divorced, but he said the break was not for personal reasons. He described the divorce as a financial decision, citing what he called “andere Gründe” – widely read as a reference to the criminal and civil consequences of the Wirecard scandal. “Das Verhältnis zu meiner Frau und Familie ist unverändert stark”, he stressed.

Divorce framed as a financial calculation

Braun's testimony forms part of a trial that has now run for roughly three and a half years before the Munich I Regional Court. Once celebrated by small investors as a stock-market star, he has spent the entire period since his arrest in pretrial custody. The proceedings have become one of the most complex white-collar trials in recent German legal history.

The court appearance provided a rare window into his present mindset. Braun invoked the language of resilience and self-discipline, framing his detention as a psychological endurance test. He also expressed a wish to return to work once free, although he offered no specific plans for what kind of role that might involve.

Verdict still far away

The trial is expected to continue in coming weeks, with further questioning of Braun on the merits of the charges. Observers say the verdict could still be months or years away, given the scope of the alleged fraud and the number of witnesses and documents involved. Braun remains in custody at Stadelheim pending the court's decision.

Prosecutors allege that Wirecard reported fictitious transactions and balances to inflate its revenue and trick investors. The collapse of the company in June 2020 wiped out billions in market value and triggered a political reckoning over financial regulation in Germany and across the European Union.