GERMANY: PROSECUTOR EXPECTS MORE ARRESTS IN INVESTIGATION IN WHICH TWO ARE MEN CHARGED WITH SELLING TECHNOLOGY INTENDED FOR IRAQ THAT COULD PRODUCE GIANT GUN BARRELS

Record ID: 649172

  • Title: GERMANY: PROSECUTOR EXPECTS MORE ARRESTS IN INVESTIGATION IN WHICH TWO ARE MEN CHARGED WITH SELLING TECHNOLOGY INTENDED FOR IRAQ THAT COULD PRODUCE GIANT GUN BARRELS
  • Date: 10th October 2002
  • Summary: (U6) MANNHEIM, GERMANY (OCTOBER 9, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. SLV TILT UP EXTERIOR PROSECUTORS OFFICE; CLOSE OF SIGN; MV STATE PROSECUTOR HUBERT JOBSKI WALKS BY CAMERA (3 SHOTS) 0.20 2. (SOUNDBITE) (German) STATE PROSECUTOR HUBERT JOBSKI SAYING "This cases pertains to infringements against export laws. We charge that the plaintiffs exported drilling equipment into a country to which an export is not permitted. Additionally, one of the plaintiffs has been charged with dealing with weapons of destruction and thereby violating the law controlling weapons of destruction." 0.40 3. SCU LEGAL FILES ON SHELF 0.47 4. (SOUNDBITE) (German) STATE PROSECUTOR HUBERT JOBSKI SAYING "One has to differentiate here, we are charging the plaintiffs with bringing drilling equipment into Iraq, and this equipment, according to us, could be used to assemble a pipe-cannon, which counts as a weapon, and that this cannon could be used to fire weapons of mass destruction." 1.14 5. SCU LEGAL BOOKS ON SHELF 1.18 6. (SOUNDBITE) (German) STATE PROSECUTOR HUBERT JOBSKI SAYING "It is common knowledge that exporting into this region is a very sensitive issue, and firms try to meet precautions by demanding a confirmation of the recipient, i.e. they want to know who is the one who is getting this product at the end. In this case these precautions were bypassed." 1.40 7. SCU PAN ACROSS DESK COVERED IN PAPERWORK 1.47 8. (SOUNDBITE) (German) STATE PROSECUTOR HUBERT JOBSKI SAYING "It's anticipated, that in the second half of January next year, that the case will be heard in Mannheim. A definite date has not been set, the court in Mannheim must decide that. Two people have been charged. One person has been detained while awaiting trial. There are other suspects. As far as these suspects are concerned, we are still investigating." 2.17 9. SCU LEGAL FILES 2.23 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 25th October 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MANNHEIM, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Reuters ID: LVA75OKFTD61OISO9Q0TD5ZBW2YM
  • Story Text: A German prosecutor has said he expects more arrests in
    an investigation in which two men have been charged with
    selling technology intended for Iraq that could produce giant
    gun barrels.

    German officials launched a case early last year,
    alleging that an individual at Mannheim-based firm Alriwo GmbH
    sold equipment in 1998 for drilling long-range gun barrels
    that could be used to launch nuclear, chemical or biological
    missiles.

    Prosecutors pressed charges in August against Bernd
    Schompeter at Alriwo in Mannheim as well as a second man who
    worked at machine tools maker Burgsmueller GmbH in northern
    Germany.

    "We are charging the plaintiffs with bringing drilling
    equipment into Iraq, and this equipment, according to us,
    could be used to assemble a pipe-cannon, which counts as a
    weapon, and that this cannon could be used to fire weapons of
    mass destruction," prosecutor Hubert Jobski told Reuters in
    Mannheim on Wednesday (October 9).

    The shipment is believed to have gone through Jordan.

    "Two people have been charged. One person has been
    detained while awaiting trial. There are other suspects. As
    far as these suspects are concerned, we are still
    investigating," Jobski said.

    The prosecutor valued the deal which Schompeter allegedly
    organised at about 255,000 euros (251,700 U.S. dollars), of
    which 205,000 euros of equipment came from Burgsmueller and
    50,000 euros from another company, Iftek GmbH.

    "The two men go on trial in January and could face a
    maximum term of 15 years in prison for violating an
    international embargo," Jobski said.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register