---
title: "Ex-Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste loses appeal against German arrest warrant"
description: "(Bloomberg) – Markus Jooste, the former chief executive of scandal-ridden retailer Steinhoff International Holdings, has lost his appeal against the warrant issued by a German court after he failed to show up for trial in the country."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "ACCOUNTING SCANDAL"
author: "Bloomberg"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bloomberg/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-07-27-ex-steinhoff-ceo-markus-jooste-loses-appeal-against-german-arrest-warrant/"
published: "2023-07-27T14:48:31"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 174
---

# Ex-Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste loses appeal against German arrest warrant

> (Bloomberg) – Markus Jooste, the former chief executive of scandal-ridden retailer Steinhoff International Holdings, has lost his appeal against the warrant issued by a German court after he failed to show up for trial in the country.

By Bloomberg · Published 27 July 2023, 16:48 SAST

## Key points
- Markus Jooste, former chief executive of scandal-ridden retailer Steinhoff, has lost an appeal against the arrest warrant issued by a German court after he failed to show up for trial in the country.
- Oldenburg court rejects Markus Jooste's challenge to arrest warrant.
- Jooste's German lawyer claims he can't travel due to passport arrangement with South African authorities.
- Steinhoff has been battling for over five years since auditors refused to sign off on its accounts.
- Judicial authorities in Oldenburg may seek his extradition from South Africa or ask Interpol for help.

## Content

The Higher Regional Court of Oldenburg rejected his challenge on Monday, a tribunal spokeswoman said. Prosecutors had asked for an arrest warrant when Jooste didn’t show up for his [trial](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-18/ex-steinhoff-ceo-fails-to-show-up-for-german-criminal-trial) in April.

Bernd Gross, Jooste’s German lawyer, didn’t reply to an email seeking comment.

Gross [told the court in April](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-19-ex-steinhoff-ceo-markus-jooste-fails-to-show-up-for-german-trial/) that Jooste was unable to travel because he didn’t have access to his passport, under an arrangement with South African authorities. Jooste is facing much bigger probes and allegations there than in Germany, the lawyer said at the time.

**Read Daily Maverick’s coverage of the**[Steinhoff scandal and Markus Jooste](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article_tag/markus-jooste/)

Steinhoff has been battling to stay afloat, more than five years since auditors refused to sign off on its accounts. This prompted Jooste to resign and caused a dramatic share-price collapse as well as criminal and regulatory investigations in Europe and South Africa.

The judicial authorities in Oldenburg could now seek his extradition from South Africa or ask Interpol for help in the case. **DM/Bloomberg**

*With assistance from Janice Kew.*

*© 2023 Bloomberg L.P.*