Germany Advances Plan to Strengthen Penalties for K.O.-Tropfen Crimes

The Bundesrat is reviewing a proposal from Nordrhein-Westfalen to impose a minimum five-year sentence for crimes involving the use of these substances, equating them with dangerous tools.

• The legislative proposal seeks to classify the administration of K.O.-Tropfen as equivalent to using a weapon, addressing a gap in current legal definitions.
• Nordrhein-Westfalen's initiative would raise the minimum sentence for related sexual and robbery offenses from three to five years.
• The proposed changes aim to mitigate significant health risks associated with K.O.-Tropfen, including loss of consciousness and potential fatalities.
• The initiative directly responds to a 2024 Bundesgerichtshof ruling that excluded K.O.-Tropfen from the 'dangerous tool' category due to their liquid state.
• The Bundesrat's committees are currently reviewing the proposal, with a decision pending on whether it will advance to the Bundestag for further consideration.

3 Articles

Stern Stern Sächsische Zeitung