11.06.2020 06:09
96.347
Dealer in uniform! The corruption scandal shakes Saxony’s police force
–
By Alexander Bischoff
Leipzig – For seven years, the police in Leipzig had an investigation center for bicycle theft. Last year the “ZentraB Fahrrad” was quietly and secretly dissolved. The background is a corruption scandal within the Saxon police, in which dozens of officials are said to be involved! In the State Criminal Police Office, the anti-corruption unit “Ines” investigates dealers in uniform.
–
The camps of the police administration office are well protected behind the barbed wire fence. Some of the illegal bicycle transactions are said to have taken place on the barely visible area. © Alexander Bischoff
With 1,700 stolen bikes for every 100,000 inhabitants, Leipzig is the German capital of bicycle thieves.
The police had set up a special investigation unit back in 2012. One of the tasks of the “ZentraB Fahrrad” was to keep seized stolen goods until insurance companies or the public prosecutor released the bikes for scrapping or for charitable use.
In mid-2019, internal investigators uncovered inconsistencies in the exploitation through a victim. Numerous bicycles are said to have been donated to the association “Friendship eV Pegau”.
Behind it is an allotment garden division, on the board of which the father of the police officer Anke S. (43), who was responsible for the sale of evidence, sat.
The bicycles are said to have been resold through this association. The customers: dozens Police officers and apparently also lawyers in the civil service. They are said to have bought some high-quality bicycles at bargain prices between 50 and 100 euros.
–
Police officers are said to have sold more than 1,000 bicycles
Two who have so far kept silent about the corruption scandal: Saxony’s Interior Minister Roland Wöller (49, CDU, right) and Leipzig’s police chief Torsten Schultze (55). © Jan Woitas / dpa
According to the LKA’s investigations, the illegal business in the name of “friendship” also took place on the premises of the police administration office on Lützner Strasse.
During a search of Anke S.’s house in July, Soko “Ines” officials discovered numerous receipts and contracts dating back to 2015.
After several months of inventory, the investigators now assume that more than 1,000 bicycles have been illegally sold by police officers over the past four years.
The corruption investigations are not only running against Anke S., but also against a total of 13 police officers from the former central office, who are suspected of having earned a quick euro by securing bicycles.
In the room are the allegations of infidelity, the granting of advantages and thwarting punishment in office.
–
Were there also lawyers among the customers?
Stolen wheels – Leipzig is the German capital of bicycle thieves. © Martin Gerlen / dpa
On the other hand, the investigators are also on the trail of the profiteers. “According to the current state of investigations, it can be assumed that at least 40 officers of the Leipzig Police Department are affected, who at the time of the crime were among other things in the criminal police inspection, the police stations, the command and situation center and Division 3 of PD Leipzig”, it says in an internal status report of the LKA. By the way, that unit 3 is called “Unit for Combating Crime”.
Even more delicate: there should also be evidence that even public prosecutors and possibly also a judge belong to the illustrious circle of police bicycle customers, as a high-ranking official told TAG24. The State Criminal Police Office did not want to confirm this on official request.
As early as 2019, the Saxon Ministry of the Interior was comprehensively informed about the corruption scandal by the police leadership.
Minister Roland gave information to the public Wöller (49, CDU) not yet considered necessary. The Leipzig police also caps the scandal to this day. The former prestige project “ZentraB Fahrrad” has now been completed.
–
Cover photo: Alexander Bischoff
–
