Originally Posted by adultmobile

Does this require a new thread on its own?

This is not USA, do not compare with USA, it is normal for a simple Tax case that can be settled with a fine. No conspiracy needed really for this. In some euro countries the bail concept do not even exists at all, simply a judge decides if you should be in jail or not during investigations, and that's it. Other main issue: there's free border transit between European Union countries, he could take a car or train for any other Euro country even with no any id (includes boat for malta, cyprus, balearic or canary islands, Madeira) and no one checks him or will report where he gone. The only places he can't go without passport it is USA, Canada and such. It is like if an USA citizen on bail could go in Mexico but not in Brazil, would this be safe enough?
I still think that's just simple Tax (or specifically VAT) issue, solvable with a fine, but being in Germany that's handled this way, which may look a little soviet at USA eyes.