Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - In the trial against members of the Al-Zein clan, the public prosecutor's office has demanded suspended sentences and imprisonment. Six months after the start of the main proceedings against seven members of the Leverkusen clan, the public prosecutor pleaded for the clan boss to be sentenced to six years in prison. For his two 38 and 40-year-old sons, he demanded three years in prison on Tuesday. For a 25-year-old son and the clan chief's wife, suspended sentences of 21 months and two years, respectively, are appropriate.
The Düsseldorf district court temporarily suspended the criminal proceedings against a daughter and a daughter-in-law of the clan chief on Tuesday due to minor guilt against conditions. In one case, 2000 euros must be paid within three weeks, in the other case 100 hours of community service are required.
The defenders had demanded penalties at the lower end of the penalty range agreed in advance. The basis was a prior agreement between all parties involved in the proceedings. In return for comprehensive confessions, the accused were promised suspended sentences and imprisonment for a maximum of two to three years and for the gang leader six years. The clan boss and his relatives then admitted the allegations in mid-November.
They are accused in alternating participation, among other things, of commercial and gang-like social welfare fraud, money laundering, kidnapping by extortion, dangerous bodily harm and tax evasion. Despite large family fortunes, the accused are said to have received unjustified social benefits totaling 456,000 euros from the job center for more than six years by the end of June 2021. According to the indictment, they are said to have registered three penniless communities of need. The job center paid the family of ten almost 5,200 euros from tax money every month. The family is said to have used the money to repay the loan for their villa in Leverkusen.
The verdicts will be announced on December 22nd.
