Reference to further victims
Reutlingen: 71-year-old lawyer rapes asylum seekers – court bans him from practicing his profession
In Reutlingen, a lawyer was convicted of raping a client (symbolic image)
© Photo Huebner/ / Picture Alliance
In Reutlingen, a lawyer sat in the dock. The 71-year-old is said to have raped and threatened an asylum seeker. In court there were indications of further potential crimes by the defendant.
The judge in charge Eberhard Hausch described the case that happened last year to “Spiegel”: At a meeting in the office, the lawyer told his 31-year-old client that it would be helpful for his asylum procedure if he could prove trauma resulting from his escape experiences. The lawyer said that sexual dysfunction was a possible symptom of this. His client denied suffering from such disorders.
Reutlingen: Another potential victim testifies in court
At a subsequent meeting, the 71-year-old lawyer is said to have claimed that he was authorized by the administrative court to carry out a physical examination on his client himself. During and after rape He threatened to have him deported or put in prison if he told anyone about the crime.
Despite the threats, the 31-year-old turned to a lawyer who represented him as a co-plaintiff in the trial. After the local press reported on the case, another lawyer contacted investigators: one of his former clients had made similar allegations against the accused lawyer. However, at the time he found the story unbelievable, but now he sees it differently. That previous victim now testified in the trial and named the names of other possible victims.
“I became aggressive and took advantage of my professional position”
The accused initially denied the crime in court, but confessed later in the proceedings. “I was aggressive and took advantage of my professional position,” he said through his lawyers. The court sentenced the 71-year-old to a two-year suspended prison sentence and a three-year professional ban. In addition, he must pay 15,000 euros each to the probation service and the Reutlingen Asylum Café as well as 5,000 euros in compensation to the injured party. The verdict is not yet legally binding. Further investigations are being carried out against the lawyer for similar allegations.