A private chef who was accused of stealing a suitcase stuffed with £90,000 in cash from his billionaire employers has been cleared of all charges in a high-profile trial in Switzerland.
The 46-year-old German chef, who worked for the wealthy couple in Schwyz, claimed his role went far beyond the kitchen – saying he even had to cook specially prepared meals for their dog and drive their son to school.
The unnamed chef was initially hired in 2021 on a two-month trial period while still living in Germany. He later moved to Switzerland, where his salary was increased to £7,100 per month.
At first, the mega-rich couple were satisfied with his work, but tensions eventually arose, leading to his abrupt dismissal in early 2022.
The fallout resulted in a court battle over two key allegations including the theft of a suitcase containing £90,000 in cash, which the billionaire’s wife had kept in her meditation room for emergencies.
The second was receiving ‘excessive wages’- as the husband claimed he forgot to cancel a standing order from the chef’s trial period, meaning the chef received an extra £6,000 per month on top of his regular salary.
Prosecutors argued the chef should be convicted of theft and unlawful use of assets, calling for an 18-month suspended prison sentence.
The 46-year-old German chef worked for the wealthy couple in Schwyz, Switzerland
He was accused of a suitcase containing £90,000 in cash, which the billionaire’s wife had kept in her meditation room for emergencies
The chef claimed his duties exceeded those of a typical chef as he was made to prepare meals for the family’s dog
They pointed to Google searches on cash transactions and DNA traces found on the drawer where the money was stored.
However, the defence successfully argued that there was no clear evidence that the chef had stolen the money, and that others had access to the cash.
On the salary dispute, his lawyers contended that his duties far exceeded those of a typical chef – including preparing meals for the family’s dog – and that he was entitled to higher pay.
The court ultimately acquitted him of all charges. However, a civil lawsuit over the alleged salary over-payments remains ongoing.
The case was further complicated by the fact that there was no written employment contract – neither for the probationary period nor the permanent position.
The billionaires’ lawyer confirmed that civil proceedings are still pending regarding the salary dispute, but the chef will not face criminal penalties.
Despite walking free from court, the chef’s time working for one of Switzerland’s richest families appears to have ended on a bitter note – with accusations flying and a legal battle still looming over his wages.
