The numerous counterfeits convicted „mirror“ journalist Claas Relotius should have called readers to donate to his private account. Several readers described this to the „mirror“, as the magazine reported last night. According to Relotius sent from a private e-mail account from fundraising to allegedly help orphans in Turkey. The money should be transferred to his private bank account.
The editors did not know about the fundraiser, explained the „Spiegel“. How many donations there were, how high they were and what ultimately happened with the money is still unclear. The „mirror“ will pass all information in a criminal complaint to the prosecutor.
Doubts about the truth of the reportage
Background of the fundraiser was according to the magazine a reportage by Relotius on Syrian orphans who lived in Turkey on the street. The truthfulness of the text, there are now reported to be significant doubts. A photographer who accompanied Relotius temporarily in the search, therefore, pointed to several inconsistencies. One of the two children – according to Relotius‘ text, it was a sibling couple – was possibly a complete invention.
In a reporter anthology, Relotius himself reported loudly on „Spiegel“ about the beginning of the fundraiser. The journalist then told how he had managed in months of effort to bring the two orphans to a family in Lower Saxony, which had adopted the children. However, that was obviously an invention, explained the „mirror“. Relotius itself is currently not reachable for current statements.
Systematic forgeries
The „Spiegel“ had announced on Wednesday that the 33-year-old award-winning editor had forged reports in whole or in part systematically. He had thereby invented characters, quotes and events or falsified the biographies of real protagonists. Relotius wrote for the publisher since 2011 nearly 60 texts and also worked for other media. The „mirror“ announced a comprehensive work-up.
