Germany's James Bond goes on trial

Former intelligence officer Werner Mauss's trial begins on Monday in the western German city of Bochum, where tax officials will seek to prove that the 76-year-old hid around 50 million euros of earnings from them.

Described by German media as a living legend, who was trusted to handle top secret assignments for the federal government, Mauss will asked to account for the operation of several bank offshore accounts, in Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and the Bahamas under aliases.

According to the indictment presented to the court, Mauss achieved a substantial investment foreign income between October 2003 and March 2013, of which tax authorities had no knowledge.

They claim he owes the German state more 15 million euros in taxes and solidarity charges generated from investment income. Officials say the funds were partly used for his personal needs.

Far-reaching revelations

But Mauss's defense says the bank accounts were opened by Western and Israeli intelligence officials in the mid-1980s to fund covert security operations around the world.

The former vacuum cleaner salesman turned millionaire claims he helped thwart an attempted poisoning of Pope Benedict XVI by the Mafia, freed hostages held captive by Colombian rebels, and worked against the self-proclaimed "Islamic State" (IS) group. The ex-spy also claims he mediated between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as well as Hamas.

Mauss, who could face several years in jail if found guilty, claims the money was eventually transferred to an account in Luxembourg, where he was made a trustee, and not liable to tax. He has denied the charges bought by the tax office.

Account still in use

The secret fund is still active today and Mauss still uses it, reports Germany's public broadcaster "Tagesschau's" news site. The bank account has accrued substantial interest over the years, it writes.

For Mauss' trial, tax authorities have called 10 witnesses, many of them foreigners - including from Israel - who Mauss claims he has worked since 1998, the Vatican and Brazil. But their attendance at Bochum's regional court has not yet been confirmed.

Mauss has already rejected accusations of any links to the "Panama Papers" affair, which saw several high profile individuals implicated in operating offshore shell companies in Latin America.

mm/rg (AFP, DPA)