to embezzle / suppress
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to embezzle
To illegally keep money or property entrusted to you and not pass it on to the rightful recipient. This is a criminal offense.
Der Buchhalter wurde beschuldigt, Firmengelder in Höhe von 50.000 Euro unterschlagen zu haben.
The accountant was accused of having embezzled company funds amounting to 50,000 euros.
to suppress
To deliberately conceal or fail to mention information, facts, or evidence, often in order to achieve a certain result or deceive someone.
In seinem Bericht hat er die negativen Umfrageergebnisse bewusst unterschlagen.
In his report, he deliberately suppressed the negative survey results.
'Unterschlagen' is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'unter-' is not separated from the main verb and is unstressed. It remains attached to the verb in all sentence forms.
Er hat die Dokumente unterschlagen.
He embezzled the documents.
The meaning depends on the object. If it is about money or property, it means 'to keep illegally for oneself'. If it is about information, facts, or evidence, it means 'to deliberately conceal'.
Der Kassierer hat Einnahmen unterschlagen.
The cashier embezzled revenue.
In the legal meaning, the verb is almost always used with valuables or property. Typical objects are 'Geld' (money), 'Gelder' (funds), 'Vermögen' (assets), or 'Einnahmen' (revenue).
Ihm wird vorgeworfen, Spendengelder unterschlagen zu haben.
He is accused of having embezzled donation funds.
When it is about concealment, the objects are always abstract. Common combinations are 'Fakten unterschlagen' (to suppress facts), 'Beweise unterschlagen' (to suppress evidence), or 'einen Aspekt unterschlagen' (to leave out an aspect).
Der Politiker versuchte, die negativen Aspekte des Gesetzes zu unterschlagen.
The politician tried to suppress the negative aspects of the law.
to suppress
Unterdrücken and unterschlagen can prevent important evidence or information from becoming known. Unterdrücken emphasizes actively blocking its publication or distribution. Here, unterschlagen means deliberately not presenting or mentioning information that is available, often in order to deceive others.
Die Leitung unterschlug dem Ausschuss die belastenden Beweise.
The leadership withheld the incriminating evidence from the committee.
Die Leitung unterdrückte die Veröffentlichung der belastenden Beweise.
The leadership suppressed the publication of the incriminating evidence.
