Unlawful trade occurs. - Trial Commences for Leipzig Policewoman in "Bikegate" Case
After the "Bicyclegate" controversy that emerged six years ago, involving the illegitimate sale of confiscated bicycles by the Leipzig police, a ruling against a police officer has recommenced. The chief major, who was in charge of the evidence room during that time, must stand trial at the Leipzig Regional Court over claims of theft, bribery, and forgery. The trial had initially begun in mid-March but was put on hold after a change in defense representation.
The Public Prosecutor's Office claims that the 47-year-old woman granted at least 265 high-end bicycles, primarily to fellow police officers including the Special Operations Unit and the State Criminal Police Office. She supposedly got 50 euros for each bicycle she handed out, ultimately netting her 4,795 euros. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, she kept 3,000 euros for her personal use.
On Tuesday, prosecutor Christian Kuka declared that the defendant's primary motivation wasn't monetary gain, but rather a desire to impress her peers. Moreover, she aimed at disposing of the large number of bikes in the police storage room. Most of the bicycles were stolen before being discovered and confiscated. The Public Prosecutor's Office said the owners and insurance companies had no interest in these bicycles and that they could've been either disposed or donated to a charity.
In the initial court session, the presiding judge had proposed a fine as a likely sentence for the defendant, considering that the policy regulations refer to "abandoned bicycles." Whether this still holds true for the ongoing trial is to be seen.
The legal representative for the 47-year-old stated on Tuesday that she would make a statement in the coming week (June 4). In the first trial, she had denied the charges against her. The Regional Court has organized a total of 16 hearings for the trial, expected to stretch until the end of October.
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In the ongoing "Bicyclegate" trial at the Leipzig Regional Court, it was revealed that the policewoman's actions took place in Saxony's capital, Leipzig. The case involves allegations of police misconduct, with processes related to theft, bribery, and forgery being investigated. The 265 high-value bicycles, some of which were confiscated due to crime, were resold at a profit, potentially bypassing the legal resale processes. Despite the defendant's desire to impress peers and dispose of the bicycles, her actions remain under legal scrutiny by the police and the court.
Source: www.stern.de
