German couple arrested for stealing over 1m euros from parking metres

MUNICH (DPA)

An employee of the southern German city of Kempten is alleged to have stolen at least 1 million euros in coins from parking ticket machines.

Police and prosecutors announced on Monday that arrest warrants had been issued for the man and his wife on charges of theft and aiding and abetting in 720 cases. They are now both in custody.

Investigators were alerted to the man by a report from a bank regarding suspected money laundering. The Kempten public prosecutor's office was informed in October that cash was repeatedly being deposited into several bank accounts.

The employee allegedly took coins from the parking ticket machines on many occasions. He is said to have deposited the money into accounts to which his wife had access. Reports allege that the city has lost over 1 million euros as a result of the scheme.

Kempten's mayor, Thomas Kiechle, said he was "stunned and dismayed" by the allegations. Officials also searched city offices on Monday as part of the investigation.

"I naturally support the public prosecutor's office and the police in their thorough investigation of the allegations," the mayor said.