Berlin: Charges against four police officers for mistreating people seeking help

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Police station at Alexanderplatz

Photo: Sebastian Gabsch / Future Image / IMAGO

The Berlin public prosecutor's office has brought charges against four police officers because they allegedly mistreated a man seeking help. The crime is said to have taken place at night in July 2021 at the station on Alexanderplatz, as the public prosecutor announced on Wednesday. The later victim, a 21-year-old, was there to report the loss of his wallet.

According to the information, the argument apparently occurred. The now main accused, a now 35-year-old, is said to have brought the victim to the ground with a powerful blow and continued attacking him there. Three of his colleagues are said to have secured this procedure and thus enabled the 35-year-old to continue mistreating the injured party. The public prosecutor said he even became unconscious at times.

Afterwards, all four are said to have made up a story - probably to make the previous events appear in a different light, as the public prosecutor explained. The police decided to claim that the 21-year-old had thrown a lighter and a cell phone at them. They had initiated an investigation into physical attacks on law enforcement officers. The man was held and handcuffed, then his breath alcohol was measured.

Already in prison in another case

The police officers later contacted the public prosecutor's office on call with the suggestion that they order a blood sample. They told the employee on duty there the untruth and stated that the injured person had now agreed to the blood sample being taken. Nevertheless, the police officers are said to have noted that the blood sample had been ordered by the public prosecutor. Blood was taken from the 21-year-old without any legal basis or consent.

He later filed a complaint. The station was searched in June 2022. The 35-year-old accused is said to have already resigned from the police service voluntarily, as the public prosecutor stated. In another case he was sentenced to a prison sentence of two years and three months, but this verdict is not yet final.

The accusation against him is assault in office in conjunction with coercion. Charges were also brought against him and his three former colleagues, aged 26, 27 and 30, for common assault in office as well as persecution of innocent people, coercion in office and deprivation of liberty. The Berlin Regional Court will now decide on the admission of the charges and the start of the main proceedings.

kfr/AFP