Frankfurt/Main (dpa/lhe) - Right-wing extremism, war crimes, suspicion of terrorism: the state security senates of the Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Frankfurt have reached a peak of 120 session days in the year that is coming to an end. In the previous year there were "only" 90 days of meetings, said a spokeswoman on Wednesday about the balance of the court year. Two cases were concluded, including that of the Bundeswehr officer Franco A., who was convicted of preparing a serious crime that was dangerous to the state. The judgment is not yet final - the Federal Court of Justice will decide on the appeal.
Other state security proceedings will continue to occupy the OLG in the new year, such as the trial of a Syrian doctor who is accused of torturing civilians in Syrian military prisons. The trial, which was initially scheduled to run until April, is also attracting a great deal of international attention, as the taking of evidence deals with the conditions in Syrian prisons and military hospitals and the regime's dealings with opposition figures. So far, 8 experts have been heard and 13 witnesses heard.
The trial against a young man from North Hesse who is accused of attempting to found a terrorist organization is also scheduled to run until the end of April.
In connection with Islamist extremism, the main trial against a woman who is said to have been a member of the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) begins on January 16. She is also accused of violating her duty of care and education. A decision has yet to be made about the opening of a further main hearing in connection with IS membership.
But not only the state security senates had a lot to do in the past year: in 2022, around 6,800 new procedures were received in the 29 civil senates alone. Although that was slightly less than the almost 7,000 new procedures in the previous year, the value is reported to be about 30 percent higher than the incoming figures for 2018. A significant proportion of procedures related to the so-called diesel scandal continued to be accounted for. In the meantime, however, the peak has been passed, it was said.
Other mass proceedings at the OLG are pending in connection with the so-called Wirecard scandal. "We therefore hope that the already vacant and announced additional positions in the judicial and non-judicial service will be filled quickly," emphasized OLG Vice President Ruth Römer.
