Germany’s ‘007’: I helped save Pope’s life

GERMANY’S real-life answer to James Bond yesterday told his tax evasion trial he spent €2.5million (£2.2million) saving Pope Benedict XVI’S life from the mafia.

Werner Mauss also claimed he spent hundreds of thousands of euros recreating a tropical beach scene complete with palm trees in a conference room at a Frankfurt hotel to stage a truce between the Thai government and rebels.

Mr Mauss, a former intelligence agent described as a “living legend” in Germany, is accused of evading €14 million (£13 million) in taxes on profits from offshore investments.

The 77-year-old, said to be known as “007” in senior German government circles, denies the charges.

Defence lawyers for Mr Mauss were to present their closing argument at yesterday’s hearing in Bochum. But that was postponed so a personal explanation from Mr Mauss of how he claims he spent the money could be read out.

The prosecution, which has called for a six-year jail sentence, alleges that Mr Mauss spent the money on a lavish lifestyle including thoroughbred racing horses and Ferraris.

He has claimed throughout the trial that he spent the money on intelligence operations including helping to avert a mafia plot to poison Pope Benedict XVI.

But he refused to give any details of the expenditure until yesterday. The accounts he presented included an entry for €2.5 million for “measures to protect the Pope”.

The trial continues.