They would have almost turned the handle of the district court if they had appeared: Hasan Salihamidžić, sports director at FC Bayern, and ex-Bayern kicker Jérôme Boateng were to answer one after the other in court for administrative offenses on Wednesday. Both had been driving their cars too fast in Munich. And Boateng also had his cell phone to his ear while driving, as can be seen in the speed camera photo.
However: Both did not appear and were sentenced to fines in their absence.
As fast as the two gentlemen were traveling in Munich in their limousines, the negotiations in the morning by judge Betina Dettenhofer were also rushed. She usually negotiates administrative offenses every ten minutes, and as luck would have it, Salihamidžić and Boateng were on the list of meetings one after the other.
The FCB sports director received a fine notice because he had exceeded the speed by 26 kilometers per hour on Stadelheimer Straße in the city center on July 11 last year. Through his lawyer, he lodged an objection that a “moderate fine and a point in Flensburg” would have been due, says the judge.
But neither Salihamidžić nor his lawyer showed up for the scheduled court date. Therefore, Judge Dettenhofer issued a default judgment that will now be served on the Bayern board. He could accept this or fight back.
“Ghost negotiation” in the Boateng case
The hall remained empty in the next case. According to the court, Boateng admitted that he steered his BMW too quickly down Landsberger Strasse last September. The kicker was traveling at 80 things, after deducting the measurement tolerance, he was 27 km/h too fast – and he also had his cell phone to his ear. Boateng had previously admitted that he was behind the wheel, so the judge released him from attendance. The lawyer did not appear either, so that a “ghost hearing” took place.
It’s not the first time that Boateng has driven too fast or with a mobile phone, and it’s not the first time that he has been on trial in Munich. The appeal is currently underway against a verdict that sentenced the footballer to a fine of millions for assaulting his girlfriend.
At the district court, on the other hand, the sum was not quite as high: Boateng has to pay 460 euros here, as well as the costs of the procedure – and his lawyer. Probably feasible for the player from Olympique Lyon.