Former Police Detective Faces Charges of Bribery and Extortion
At the Mönchengladbach Regional Court, a 62-year-old former police detective is facing charges of attempted extortion, bribery, and obstruction of justice while in office. Two additional men, aged 33 and 51, from Mönchengladbach and Viersen, are also co-defendants in the case.
The indictment alleges that the retired detective, a former employee of the Kreispolizeibehörde Viersen, provided information and warnings to the co-defendants, who have prior criminal records, about ongoing investigations against them.
Furthermore, the three individuals are accused of attempting to extort a suspected member of a motorcycle gang over his cannabis plantation. As per the prosecution, the extortion demand involved an initial payment of 80,000 euros and subsequent monthly payments of 10,000 euros.
Defendant Declared Unfit to Stand Trial
The ex-detective failed to appear in court on the first two days of the trial. On the morning of the first day, he was admitted to a medical facility. On the second day, the chief physician certified him as unfit to participate in the proceedings.
Upon inquiry by the court, the physician indicated that the patient was experiencing severe dizziness and difficulty walking. "He only needs to sit here with us," the judge remarked, and commissioned a separate medical assessment. The second expert also concluded that the 62-year-old was not in a condition to stand trial.
Co-Defendant Flees to Turkey
One of the co-defendants, the 33-year-old, has also failed to appear in court. According to police, he has fled to Turkey. The proceedings against him have been separated from the main case.
Psychiatric Evaluation and Suspension of Proceedings
A psychiatric evaluation has been conducted, and the court has confirmed that the defendant is not currently fit for trial. As a result, the proceedings have been suspended.
Background and Allegations
The investigation into the former detective and his alleged accomplices began after the suspected extortion victim reported the incident to the authorities. The涉案嫌疑人extortion attempt reportedly involved threats of using police resources to further investigate and prosecute the victim if he did not comply with their demands.
The prosecution alleges that the ex-detective used his position within the police force to access sensitive information and provide it to the co-defendants. This information was then allegedly used to intimidate the suspected extortion victim.
Bribery and Obstruction of Justice
The charges of bribery and obstruction of justice stem from the ex-detective’s alleged actions in accepting payments or favors in exchange for withholding or altering information in official proceedings. The specific details of these accusations have not been made public.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The investigation into the alleged criminal activities is ongoing. The court has not yet set a new date for the resumption of the trial against the ex-detective once he is deemed fit to stand trial. The proceedings against the co-defendant who has fled to Turkey will continue separately.
