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Following a trial that was prominently covered in the German press due to its illustrious protagonists, particularly the heirs of billionaire Berthold Albrecht, one of the founders of the German discount supermarket chain Aldi, German art consultant Helge Achenbach was found guilty of fraud by the District Court in Essen and sentenced to six years in prison on Monday.

The 62- year old used to be one of Germany’s most influential art consultants, entertaining long-term business relationships with some of the country’s wealthiest collectors. Berthold Albrecht, who passed in 2012, was one of his most important clients. Achenbach had repeatedly inflated the net purchase prices for art works and vintage cars he procured for Albrecht and other clients.

Further details have emerged in the case against Helge Achenbach, the leading German art advisor who was arrested on 10 June on suspicion of fraud. According to the German business newspaper Handelsblatt, which cites the 24-page criminal complaint, Achenbach is accused of allegedly defrauding the late Aldi-supermarket heir and art collector Berthold Albrecht of €18m. There is also “early suspicion” that Achenbach allegedly defrauded another client, says Anette Milk, the senior public prosecutor in Essen.

A valuation of the Albrecht’s estate following his death two years ago raised concerns, and the collector’s heirs filed a complaint with the state prosecutor’s office in Essen, in April.

German art consultant Helge Achenbach has been arrested after allegations of fraud. The 62-year-old is considered one of Germany’s most influential art consultants, entertaining long-term business relationships with some the country’s wealthiest collectors. According to the state attorney of the city of Essen, Achenbach has been accused of overpricing art and vintage cars he procured for investors. German newspapers Bild and Die Welt have reported that fraud allegations were made by the heirs of Berthold Albrecht, one of the founders of the German discount supermarket chain Aldi, who was one of Achenbach’s most important clients until his death in 2012.