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AFP
The German journalist Claas Relotius, accused by the news magazine Der Spiegel's false stories, could now be subject to prosecution.
Der Spiegel says he is filing a criminal complaint alleging that he has solicited donations for Syrian orphans from readers with any proceeds of his money.
Der Spiegel said last week that Relotius admitted to having simulated stories.
The 33-year-old journalist has not yet commented on allegations of embezzlement.
In his latest development, Der Spiegel indicates (in German) having received messages from readers indicating that Relotius had used a private email account to request donations to help Syrian orphans in Turkey.
The money should be sent to his personal bank account, according to the magazine.
The publication indicates that the type of response that he has received is not yet clear – how much money was collected or how it was collected.
Der Spiegel gathers evidence to convey to prosecutors.
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The appeal to Relotius' donations were linked to an article he had written about two Syrian street children, a brother and sister, in Turkey whom Der Spiegel says were falsified.
A Turkish photographer who accompanied Relotius in the report said that the journalist had invented some aspects of the boy's life and strongly fictitised others.
The photographer suspects that the sister may not have existed at all.
& # 39; Institutional Prejudice & # 39;
US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell also intervened, writing to Der Spiegel's editor-in-chief to demand an independent investigation and accusing the publication of an institutional prejudice against the United States.
Like many publications, Der Spiegel published critical articles of President Donald Trump
One of Relotius' articles in question was centered on the US-Mexico border. Der Spiegel said his investigation revealed that he had fabricated reports that in a town in Minnesota, a hand-painted sign read "Mexicans Keep Out".
False information has been published in other articles, including on detainees in the US military prison. at Guantanamo Bay and another on the NFL quarterback, Colin Kaepernick
Relotius, who was fired, told the magazine that he regretted his actions and that he was deeply ashamed. According to Der Spiegel, he admitted to having disappointed readers in some 14 stories.
But he says that most of the 60 articles he's written for the magazine are accurate.
The Hamburg-based publication described the revelations as "a low point in Der Spiegel's 70-year history."
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