The gravity and nature of the illness was not explained, but Stolberg is understood to have gone to hospital and the trial will not be restarted until 8 March at the earliest, a Bremen court spokesperson confirmed.
The delay will take the court case that began in January 2016 well into a second year.
Stolberg — the former golden boy of German shipping during his stint of several years heading Beluga — has been fighting allegations of financial fraud and embezzlement.
