Bavarian MP
Money laundering and property damage: AfD politician Halemba is threatened with new trouble
Daniel Halemba (AfD) in the Bavarian state parliament
© Peter Kneffel / DPA
Investigations into sedition, suspension from office due to trickery before the election – after a lot of trouble, the Bavarian AfD member of the state parliament Daniel Halemba is confronted with further allegations.
After months of investigations into sedition, the Würzburg public prosecutor’s office arrested the AfD member of the state parliament Daniel Halemba targeted for further allegations. A spokesman for the investigative agency told the German Press Agency on Friday that investigations are now also underway into money laundering, coercion and damage to property. The spokesman initially did not want to give details of the allegations for tactical reasons.
The public prosecutor’s office has asked the state parliament to revoke Halemba’s immunity as a member of the Maximilianeum because of the new allegations, said the public prosecutor’s spokesman. According to information from the German Press Agency, the Constitutional Committee of the state parliament gave the green light on Thursday for MPs to vote in plenary session on lifting immunity. The state parliament will finally vote on lifting immunity in the plenary session on April 25th.
Halemba criticizes the public prosecutor’s office
Halemba himself told the DPA on Friday that he would welcome it “if the facts were clarified through objective investigations”: “I am firmly convinced that I have not committed a criminal offense.” The 22-year-old emphasized that he had been deceived by taking advantage of his good nature. He did not provide further details about the allegations. “If I am responsible for any damage caused, I will pay for it in full.”
Halemba accused the public prosecutor’s office of questionable investigations: “It is absurd to stop proceedings against co-accused who are not politically active and to want to bring charges against me with the same unsubstantiated allegations.” At the same time, he was confident that the newly added investigations “will result in a dismissal or an acquittal.”
Investigations into sedition
The Würzburg public prosecutor’s office has been investigating Halemba for months on suspicion of incitement to hatred. In the meantime, the 22-year-old was also wanted on an arrest warrant, but this has since been revoked. Halemba himself rejects the public prosecutor’s allegations.
The MP is also controversial within his own party. Halemba has already been banned from holding office within the party for two years by the Bavarian state executive because of trickery when drawing up lists for the state elections. At a state party conference, a majority of delegates asked him to resign from his seat as a member of parliament. However, this decision was not binding for Halemba. The AfD parliamentary group in Bavaria also supported him. The 22-year-old will remain a member of the Maximilianeum until further notice.
The presumption of innocence applies until the proceedings are legally concluded.