Duisburg (dpa / lnw) – In the mafia trial of the Duisburg district court, which has been ongoing for more than two years, two other defendants have been released from custody. The confirmed court spokesman Sebastian Hilland on Monday at dpa request. The arrest warrant for one of the accused was lifted last Friday after almost four years in custody. For the chamber it was decisive that there was “no urgent suspicion” with regard to “gang-like” trafficking in narcotics and membership in a foreign criminal organization – the Italian ‘Ndrangheta.
According to the court, the penalty in this case was not so high that there was an increased risk of absconding. Therefore, further detention would be “disproportionate”, as Hilland explained. This has no influence on the continuation of the trial against a total of 14 accused, which was relocated to Düsseldorf because of the security requirements. The 58-year-old is still strongly suspected of having dealt in drugs. “Bild.de” reported on the cancellation of the arrest warrant on Sunday evening.
In addition, Hilland told the dpa that a decision had been made last Thursday to suspend the arrest warrant against conditions and the payment of a bail of 150,000 euros for another accused. The bail was paid on Monday. So the man is also free.
The mafia trial of the Duisburg regional court is a mammoth trial directed against a total of 14 defendants. They are accused, among other things, of trafficking in more than 600 kilograms of heroin. The first day of the trial took place on October 12, 2020. For the time being, further dates have been scheduled until August 2023.
