process
There is an expert opinion on the recording of Bushido and the ex-manager
Rapper Bushido in court in Berlin (archive image). photo
© Paul Zinken/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
The allegations against the longtime manager of the rapper Bushido have been occupying the court for more than two and a half years. But there will probably be a few more days of negotiations.
Around 14 months after the appearance of a sound document in the trial against rapper Bushido’s ex-business partner, the Berlin Regional Court has received an expert opinion on its authenticity. The Austrian expert who prepared it should be heard in the process and explain his investigation. There is no date for this yet, as the presiding judge Martin Mrosk said on Monday. However, it was asked whether the expert could come to Berlin at the end of April.
Bushido’s lawyer, Steffen Tzschoppe, sees himself confirmed by the preliminary report. According to the audio expert’s conclusion, “the file should be treated with cautious skepticism,” Tzschoppe told the German Press Agency. The file had always been a forgery for him to discredit his client. The defender of the accused ex-manager, Hansgeorg Birkhoff, rejected this. From the point of view of the defenders of the clan chief and three of his brothers, the approximately two-hour audio file refutes the depiction of Bushido.
Bushido doubts the alleged recording
The 44-year-old, whose real name is Anis Mohamed Ferchichi, is a witness and joint plaintiff in the criminal proceedings. Most of the allegations against 47-year-old Arafat A.-Ch. and his brothers based on the rapper’s statements.
The public prosecutor’s office accuses the accused of, among other things, deprivation of liberty, attempted severe extortion, coercion, dangerous bodily harm, insult and infidelity. The alleged crimes are said to have happened after Bushido broke ties with his manager. The musician is said to have been locked up on January 18, 2018, pelted with a bottle and a chair. The background is said to have been that the clan boss did not accept that the musician had dissolved the business relationship.
The controversial audio document appeared in early 2022. It is said to have been secretly made at a meeting between the rapper and his ex-manager on the day the prosecution calls the day of the crime. Bushido and his lawyer have always questioned the authenticity of the file. There are many technical and content-related abnormalities, according to Bushido in his multi-day survey of the recording. Now it remains to be seen whether the expert shares this view and can prove manipulation.
Rapper Shindy cancels sick
The trial of Arafat A.-Ch. and his brothers has been running since August 2020 – and will probably continue into the summer. So far, hearing dates are planned until May 4th. Judge Mrosk announced on the 94th day of the hearing that there would be further appointments.
One of the reasons is that witnesses keep failing to appear at short notice. This was also the case on Monday: Rapper Shindy stated that he was ill. The musician, whose real name is Michael Schindler, is to be questioned about the secretly recorded audio file. A fine was imposed on Shindy for failing to testify earlier in the trial. The trial is scheduled to continue on April 25.