German actor Jimi Blue Ochsenknecht, who was arrested in Hamburg in June during a fraud investigation, is now a free man again. On Thursday, the Innsbruck Regional Court imposed pre-trial detention on the 33-year-old due to serious fraud allegations and risk of flight. However, he was released after posting bail of €15,000. Meanwhile, formal charges have been filed against Ochsenknecht.
No trial date has been set yet. The Innsbruck public prosecutor’s office agreed with the court’s decision to release him, it stated in a press release. Ochsenknecht’s Tyrolean defense attorney Matthias Holzmann had filed a motion for release, and the bail was paid shortly thereafter. The actor was immediately released and has “promised” to remain in Austria until the end of the proceedings. He also surrendered his passport to the court.
Ochsenknecht Shows Remorse
The 33-year-old reportedly confessed and expressed remorse. According to both his lawyer and the prosecution, he accepted responsibility for the accusations in the indictment—both before the judge and the criminal police. He did not comment further on the specific allegations. Ochsenknecht will face charges of serious fraud at the Innsbruck Regional Court because the alleged financial damage exceeds €5,000. If convicted, the actor—best known for his breakout role in the children’s film The Wild Soccer Bunch (Die Wilden Kerle)—faces a fine or up to three years in prison.
Unpaid Hotel Bill of €14,000 in Tyrol
The case stems from an incident in late 2021, when Ochsenknecht allegedly spent four days at a hotel in Kirchberg in Tyrol (Kitzbühel district), racking up nearly €14,000 in charges, which he never paid. Though a court later ordered him to pay the sum, he failed to do so until his recent arrest. “There is reason to believe that Mr. Ochsenknecht either could not or did not intend to pay for the services at the time he received them,” the prosecutor stated. While the actor has since paid the bill, this does not negate the criminal charges, although it may be considered as a mitigating factor if convicted.
Arrest in Hamburg, Transfer to Innsbruck
According to authorities, Ochsenknecht had known about the ongoing criminal investigation since December 2024. He was informed by email but stopped responding after initially providing a residential address in Italy. A request for legal assistance sent to Italy was unsuccessful—he was reportedly not registered or present at the given address. Authorities suspected he was evading justice. A European arrest warrant was issued, and in late June, he was arrested at Hamburg Airport. On July 7, the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court approved his extradition. A week-long prisoner transport with multiple stops brought him to Innsbruck.
“Doing OK Under the Circumstances”
The former child star is currently not allowed to leave Austria. “My client is doing OK under the circumstances,” said lawyer Holzmann. “He is deeply affected by the case and his time in custody. We ask that his privacy be respected. No further statements will be made at this time.”
On Instagram in early July, Ochsenknecht posted: “I should have known how serious this was and never let it get this far. That was wrong.” He added that the outstanding bill was paid within an hour of his arrest by his ex-girlfriend and the mother of his child, who “didn’t hesitate” to help.
