After an internal investigation found that public broadcaster NDR leaders had prevented an interview and nine staff members had complained about politically motivated censorship, seven other staff members wrote a “servility address” to their superiors, possibly without even knowing the internal findings. The document, first reported by Berliner Zeitung, is available here:
In 2020 the state of Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister of the Interior, Grote, who had critically investigated the “rocker affair”, resigned. Governor Günther had asked him to. Grote had fallen out of favour with the police leadership and a police union, as well as with parts of his own party CDU, such as minister of the interior at the time of the affair, Schlie, after dismissing police leaders involved in the “rocker affair”.
German media are currently discussing an internal investigation within public broadcaster NDR, according to which a journalist was prohibited from interviewing Grote about the given and the true reasons for Günther’s decision. The interference by leading NDR journalists, some of which are reported to be CDU members, may have been politically motivated.
We can now publish the report here (some journalist’s names are redacted).
Background: In 2010, the Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Police Office allegedly partially suppressed exculpatory testimony in favor of two accused rockers and used every means at its disposal to prevent the investigating officers from recording it in full in the case file and testifying in court. All of this served to protect an informant whose identity should not have been protected under the law.
In 2010, the Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Police Office partially suppressed exculpatory testimony in favor of two accused rockers and used every means at its disposal to prevent the investigating officers from recording it in full in the case file and testifying in court. All of this served to protect an informant whose identity should not have been protected under the law.
This German “rocker affair” (“Rocker-Affäre”) was investigated by a committee of inquiry which published its findings, but omitted key information. We already leaked an internal report from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania State Criminal Police Office, dated 19/04/2012, which reveals the identity of the police informer.
There is, however, another secret report on the investigation of a special envoy (Klaus Buß) appointed by then Minister of the Interior Hans-Joachim Grote, who has in the meantime been dismissed. The report, dated 28/03/2018, reveals the findings on wrongdoings by the police and the ministry, and contains recommendations which have been withheld from public scrutiny so far.
In 2010, the Schleswig-Holstein State Criminal Police Office allegedly partially suppressed exculpatory testimony in favor of two accused rockers and used every means at its disposal to prevent the investigating officers from recording it in full in the case file and testifying in court. All of this served to protect an informant whose identity should not have been protected under the law.
This German “rocker affair” (“Rocker-Affäre”) was investigated by a committee of inquiry. However, its findings keep perhaps the biggest scandal secret: the identity of the police informer, because of whom the rule of law was trampled underfoot.
The police cooperated with Ralf Bacher, the President of the Bandidos Neumünster rocker group. He had a criminal record and was himself suspected of being involved in the dangerous assault at the Subway restaurant in Neumünster. The Ministry of the Interior was preparing to ban the Bandidos Neumünster, which were led by Bacher. Nevertheless, the police continued to cooperate with Bacher.
A secret report from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania State Criminal Police Office proves the facts of the case and contains sharp criticism of the cooperation. We document the text of the secret classified report:
Continue reading The police informer because of whom the rule of law was trampled underfoot