Jens Lehmann, a former Arsenal goalkeeper, has been compelled to pay a €135,000 (£112,500) punishment after being found guilty of property damage and attempted fraud.
The 54-year-old is accused of using a chainsaw to chop through the roof beams of a garage on his neighbor’s property in Lake Starnberg in July 2022.
Lehmann believed that the structure had impeded his view of the lake and was suspected of cutting the wire of a surveillance camera; nevertheless, the camera continued to run on battery power and captured him.
The evidence against Lehmann also included two incidences at a Munich Airport car park. Lehmann was accused of driving his car bumper to bumper out of the parking lot in order to avoid paying the fine.
In December 2023, the Starnberg District Court convicted Lehmann to a €420,000 fine (£350,000). Both Lehmann and the public prosecutor’s office filed an appeal against this. The prosecution even sought a suspended jail term for the former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper.
In a hearing on Friday, Lehmann accepted a guilty conviction, allowing the court to merely assess the amount of his fine, which was lowered to €135,000 (£112,500).
According to prosecutor Stefan Kreutzer, Lehmann ‘clearly feels he is beyond the law’.
Florian Ufer, Lehmann’s defence counsel, stated: “Mr Lehmann accepts responsibility.” He has reached a deal with his neighbour. The parking costs were paid.
Lehmann’s legal team issued a statement to German media outside the court saying, ‘Today’s verdict is a very excellent result.
‘The prior district court decision was disproportionate, as today’s fine reduction of about 70% clearly demonstrates.’
Laurent Lafleur, a spokesman for the Munich district court, stated, “This is not the same as a confession.” The guilty result from the first trial was simply accepted.
