The Bonn regional court has sentenced two brothers to prison terms for attempting to kidnap a businessman. The sentences for attempted extortion kidnapping over a year and over a year and nine months were suspended on Monday. The accused have to bear the costs of the proceedings and pay fines to the state treasury.
As the court found, the brothers, who were in financial difficulties because of gambling debts, had initially considered kidnapping ex-soccer player Wolfgang Overath. But then they would have decided on the entrepreneur. A few hours before the crime in February 2021, the older brother also backed down. According to the verdict, a work colleague of the younger one took over his part.
However, the businessman fought back when he was about to be dragged into a car. A passer-by with a dog finally drove the perpetrators away.
Although the older brother did not take part in the actual kidnapping attempt, the chamber did not see this as a resignation from the act – because he did not prevent it either. He got mitigating circumstances as he had made a full confession while the younger one had only partially confessed. The third accomplice is still being investigated separately.
