In October 2021, the Leipzig Hotel Westin became the setting for a moment that will now forever remain associated with Gil Ofarim. The musician said in an Instagram video that went viral that a hotel manager had discriminated against him with the words “Pack up your star!” He wanted to claim an anti-Semitic attack and the resulting discrimination. He was sued for defamation.
But as the 41-year-old himself confessed in November 2023 on the sixth day of the trial in the Leipzig Regional Court, he was not wearing a Star of David necklace that evening. Everything was just made up. The video evaluation showed this. A 150-page report played a role in the criminal trial against Ofarim, which, according to “Focus”, was prepared by digital forensic expert Dirk Labudde.
He carefully evaluated the various camera recordings in and in front of the hotel. How “Focus” According to our own research, the report cost 5,320 euros. According to the news magazine’s online page, the sum relates to “the analysis of the video sequences from November 10, 2021 and the re-enactment of the decisive situations on December 6, 2021 in the Westin Hotel.”
Labudde confirmed to “Focus” that the responsible Faculty of Applied Computer and Life Sciences at Mittweida University had forwarded the relevant invoices to the Saxon investigative authorities in February 2022 and that the claims had already been paid.
The news portal even provides a list of costs. Accordingly, the Leipzig police department transferred 2,570.40 euros to the expert, whereas the Leipzig public prosecutor’s office paid 2,748.90 euros for the report.
Gil Ofarim has to pay 10,000 euros
Money issues now play the decisive role in the Ofarim case after the proceedings have been concluded: the court is currently receiving applications for expenses from witnesses. However, no claims for expenses have yet been received from lawyers and experts, a court spokesman told “Focus”.
After his confession, the Leipzig regional court temporarily closed the proceedings against Gil Ofarim on November 28, 2023, with the condition that the singer had to pay a total of 10,000 euros to the Jewish Community of Leipzig and the sponsoring association of the Wannsee Conference House. This payment would then mark the end of the process. However, Ofarim has not yet done this, according to the court. In the event of non-payment, it is said, further negotiations would be carried out.