The journalist, who tells his story in a café in Leipziger Südvorstadt, describes himself as "collateral damage". As collateral damage to an affair that not only shook this city, but a whole state, Free State of Saxony. For interview, editor of Leipziger Zeitung is prepared only on condition that his name is not mentioned in newspaper: "As a journalist I have to do with sources that want to remain unrecognized. I cannot afford to see interlocutors in me who have been bugged by police, "he says.
It was in November of last year when reporter learned of completed investigations against persons in vicinity of left Leipzig Football Association chemistry Leipzig. He began to report on this: Dresden's General prosecutor's office had been accused of suspicion of forming a criminal association, including fans and board members of Chemistry Leipzig. The group, as prosecutors suspected, should be responsible for violent crimes against persons from extreme right-wing spectrum. The serious arsenal of Code of Criminal Procedure has been established: telephone surveillance – so-called TKÜs – and observations. The investigators attacked 56 118 traffic and 838 stock records. At least 240 citizens were bugged during telephone calls. Only , as is said, process-relevant conversation protocols fill 41 file volumes. After months of eavesdropping in a three-year investigation process, re was no charge at end. Nothing.
The LVZ editor, who had previously researched in environment of Chemistry Leipzig, says: At first, prosecutor told him that journalists had not been affected by eavesdropping measures. "Then it was said: There were individual cases, but everything was deleted immediately. Then it turned out: not everything was deleted. "
It was not until July 2017, after eight months of research, that same prosecutor, with whom he spoke regularly about case as a journalist, told him that he, LVZ reporter himself, had also been listened to; That perhaps several of his research calls were recorded: because he had been on phone professionally with members of association whose connections were monitored. It is alleged that address of reporter was not known to authority. Therefore, it was not possible to inform him earlier.
Now, says journalist, he wants to know exactly: "How many conversations were that? What was content? " So far, it is completely unclear to him. His lawyer has filed an application for inspection.
This article comes from time No. 42/2017. Here you can read entire output.The Interception affair Chemistry Leipzig: Media and football fans, but also politicians speak of a "listening scandal" that has occurred here; The case moved in summer of Germany wide circles. Suspect: Have investigating authorities violated rights of professional professional such as journalists, lawyers and doctors? What justifies such an immense investigation effort? And: Were conversation logs actually deleted at least late? Of course, any prosecutor May and should record investigations if it suspects that, wherever, a criminal association has formed. The special thing about this case is that Public Prosecutor's Office has been extremely long in left-wing environment, without any suspicions being confirmed. And she didn't seem to be keeping all rules. The rules state that investigators can intercept conversations of suspects if a judge has allowed that. Even phone calls. However, rules also state that discussions with so-called professional professional may only be used under certain conditions – and in particular, discussions with journalists must be deleted as a rule. That, in addition, persons concerned are informed of interception measures. All this has not happened.
Date Of Update: 15 October 2017, 12:03
