Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – Five suspected criminals have already been released from custody this year because the North Rhine-Westphalian authorities were working too slowly. The NRW Ministry of Justice communicated this as a provisional status (beginning of December) at the request of the dpa. The number was higher than in the previous year, when three suspects had to be released by mid-December.
Criminal proceedings were initiated against the five criminals for offenses such as child sexual abuse, drug trafficking, gang sales tax evasion and gang theft.
Luck in disguise for the judiciary: none of the suspects released early from custody would have used this to escape. The suspects in child abuse and drug trafficking with weapons have now been convicted.
The other procedures are still ongoing. If suspects are in custody, the judiciary has to speed things up. After six months in pre-trial detention, a court must examine whether continued detention is justified for each prisoner.
