Reports in the German mainstream media suggest that a conclusion to the long-running trial of ex-Beluga Shipping chief Niels Stolberg is in sight.

Yesterday in Bremen District Court, prosecutor Silke Noltensmeier demanded a four and a half year prison sentence, which Stolberg's defence team considers to be completely inappropriate, suggesting that a suspended sentence is more fitting.

The prosecutor considers it proven that Stolberg was guilty of fraud in a number of cases. The defence says that there is no evidence of that.

In addition to Stolberg, three former Beluga executives have also been charged in the trial, which has been ongoing since January 2016.

For them, the prosecutor demanded suspended sentences between 11 months and one year and ten months.

HLPFI understands that verdicts are expected to be announced on March 15.