Suspected Romanian couple released after forced kidney donation in Munich
A Romanian couple suspected of forcing a man in Munich to donate a kidney has been released after a brief period of pre-trial detention. According to the public prosecutor's office, the alleged victim has weakened his statement.
Suspects in alleged forced kidney donation in Munich released
A Romanian couple suspected of forcing a fellow countryman in Munich to donate a kidney has been released from pre-trial detention following their extradition to Germany. This is reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung citing the Munich I public prosecutor's office.
"On the basis of the investigation status that has since emerged, the accused has been released from pre-trial detention. The same applies to the accused wife," said public prosecutor's office spokesperson Juliane Grotz. The decisive factor was reportedly a video submitted by the Bild newspaper, in which the alleged victim considerably weakened his earlier statements.
Investigations are, however, continuing. According to Grotz, proceedings are pending at the organised crime division on suspicion of human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal.
Threats against parents in Romania
The Romanian anti-corruption authority DIICOT in Bucharest had ordered the arrests on the basis of a European arrest warrant. According to DIICOT, the accused man and his wife are alleged to have extorted the victim: he was threatened that his parents in Romania could be killed if he refused to donate.
The victim is said to have been held in a Munich apartment. The kidney removal took place in a German clinic, with the victim allegedly falsely stating that he was a nephew of the transplant recipient. The accused man himself required the kidney due to a serious kidney condition.
Group from Timișoara
According to DIICOT, both accused are considered "outstanding members" of a "criminal group" in western Romanian Timișoara. Already in March this year, Romanian investigators conducted house searches in several properties belonging to the group; at the same time, searches also took place in Munich, as confirmed by the Munich prosecutor's office.
In separate proceedings before the Munich I Regional Court, 40-year-old Vladimir F. must answer charges of large-scale drug trafficking. Investigators suspect an internationally active organisation behind the accused.
Source: Süddeutsche Zeitung