Berlin Court Orders Confiscation of 58 Properties Linked to Suspected Money Laundering

The decision, part of an independent forfeiture procedure, is not legally binding and has reignited debates over the term 'clan criminality.'

The Berlin Regional Court has ordered the confiscation of 58 properties in Berlin and Brandenburg linked to suspected money laundering activities.
The properties, initially seized in 2018, were owned primarily by a 43-year-old woman living in Lebanon and a 41-year-old woman and companies she represented.
The confiscation utilized an independent forfeiture procedure, allowing seizure of assets without requiring a criminal conviction.
Critics argue that the term 'clan criminality' used in such cases perpetuates ethnic and familial stigmatization.
The decision is not legally binding, and appeals remain possible, reflecting the ongoing legal complexities of addressing suspected illicit assets.