Berlin: A German politician has been caught short after janitors collared him red-handed pilfering toilet roll from the gents in the town hall during a sting operation, authorities said on Wednesday.
Janitors` suspicions were raised when more than 200 rolls vanished and they laid a trap for Frank-Michael John, 24, a member of the far-left Die Linke party in the regional council of Stralsund, northern Germany.
They discovered him exiting the toilet with one roll in his hand and another in a backpack, according to several media.
"We are investigating the theft of several low-value items," Ralf Lechte, from the Stralsund prosecutors` office, said, confirming the media reports.
As the town hall buys toilet paper in bulk, the total value of the suspected theft is unlikely to amount to more than a few hundred euros (dollars), he added.
"Whether charges are pressed will depend on the perpetrator and whether he has previous offences," Lechte added.
Bureau Report