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3mo ago

Hamburg Court Suspends 900-Euro Fine and Orders 500-Euro Charity Payment for Man Who Insulted Vice Chancellor Klingbeil

He was acquitted of an unauthorized weapons charge after prosecutors failed to prove he knew about a rifle found in his garage

Vizekanzler Lars Klingbeil bei der „Hamburg Sustainability Conference“
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Wegen Beleidigung des SPD-Bundeschefs Lars Klingbeil als "Dreck" hat ein Hamburger Amtsgericht einen Mann verwarnt. Es verhängte damit eine Art Geldstrafe zur Bewährung in Höhe von 900 Euro. Als Auflage muss der Mann aber sofort 500 Euro bezahlen.

Overview

  • On June 3, 2025, the Hamburg-Wandsbek district court issued a warning under a suspended 900-euro fine for a 65-year-old who called SPD leader Lars Klingbeil “Dreck” in a March 2024 Telegram video.
  • The court imposed an immediate 500-euro payment to a charitable organization, distinguishing it from the suspended penalty and citing the defendant’s lack of prior convictions.
  • The insult was prosecuted under Paragraph 188 of Germany’s Criminal Code, which grants extra defamation protection to public figures for statements linked to their official duties.
  • Prosecutors also charged the man with illegal firearm possession after discovering a rifle in his garage, but he was cleared when the court found no proof that he knew of the weapon.
  • The case proceeded without any formal complaint from Klingbeil or his representatives, underscoring the court’s responsibility to pursue defamation against public officials.