Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - In the trial against members of the Al-Zein clan, an important witness for the prosecution broke off his testimony on Tuesday. A court spokeswoman confirmed this on Tuesday. According to those involved in the process, the man appeared scared and intimidated. He said he would not testify further until he had a lawyer by his side as a witness.
According to the indictment, the clan had demanded 1,000 euros in monthly protection money from the witness, the owner of a Düsseldorf car repair shop. In order to emphasize the claim, clan members are said to have beaten him up and injured him so badly that the man had to be hospitalized.
The accused around the 47-year-old clan leader are accused of social security fraud, money laundering, extortion kidnapping, forced labor, hostage-taking, aggravated robbery, dangerous bodily harm, tax evasion and multiple extortion.
