COLOGNE, Germany — Fabian Thylmann, the former managing partner of Manwin who was indicted on tax evasion charges in Cologne, is now the subject of a second federal probe over suspicion that he made pornography available to minors in Germany through the website MyDirtyHobby, according to a report today.
Die Welt said today that the second investigation on Thylmann, which is being conducted by federal prosecutors in Hamburg, is now running concurrent with the first ongoing probe that centers on alleged tax evasion involving the talent who appeared on MyDirtyHobby.
That probe, according to Die Welt, is focused on wage taxes for the years 2010-2012. “Whether the money was really ever forwarded to the tax authorities is unclear,” Die Welt said.
Die Welt said that tax authorities are specifically tracing the flow of revenue between Thylmann and The Fiscal Group Ltd. in Gibraltar, the Colbette Holdings Ltd. in Nicosia, Cyprus and the Novonet BV in Amsterdam.
Up until 2012, Thylmann, who was indicted on criminal tax charges earlier this month, ran the companies operate out of Aachen, Germany.
The second investigation that centers on allowing porn available to minors without an age-verification system is a serious one in Germany.
Die Welt notes that violations to the law could amount to up to one year in prison, if convicted.
Under German laws, the broadcasting of pornography is forbidden unless the provider ensures that it can only be accessed by adults only.
Laws are so stringent in Germany over Internet access that users must register and be verified by the post office. Then each time the customer requires access to the service, authentication is carried out for which the customer needs their own software, ID chip and a PIN. A second approved system relies on smartphone technology involving a PIN used in connection with a SIM card.
Thylmann in October 2013 sold his stake in Manwin to the company's "top management team," and the adult entertainment conglomerate rebranded as MindGeek 10 days later. At the time, Thymann said he sold his stake in the business with “a sad heart.”
The selloff occurred shortly after Thylmann was initially accused of tax evasion and extradited from Belgium on a German warrant.
He deposited a bond in the “tens of millions” for his pre-trial release and his passport had been held.
Thylmann did not immediately respond to XBIZ for comment over today's Die Welt report.
