The clan boss probably only has to pay a small amount himself, the rest comes from the taxpayer.
The Bushido trial against Arafat Abou-Chaker, which lasted three and a half years, ended with a virtual acquittal for the boss of the Berlin-Lebanese-Palestinian extended family. After 114 days of trial, the Berlin regional court said: acquittal on all main charges. Abou-Chaker was only convicted for recording conversations with Bushido and had to dig into his own wallet for it. Nevertheless, the process was extensive – many people were involved – and therefore expensive.
That’s why the process was so expensive
As “Bild” reports, the extensive legal dispute is said to have accumulated a sum of at least 2.4 million euros to be paid by taxpayers. In order to make the individual cost points easier to understand, “Bild” goes through the individual parts. The judges probably had to spend around 500,000 euros on 114 days of hearings. Each defendant had two defense lawyers – and Arafat Abou-Chaker initially had three – which is why the final sum is expected to be around 456,000 euros. Bushido had the prominent lawyer Steffen Tzschoppe as a co-plaintiff, who had a fee of around 57,000 euros.
At least a dozen judicial sergeants, as well as extra security personnel at separate entrance gates, were on duty each day of the trial. Combined with the two-year personal protection for Bushido and his family, that amounts to at least another 1.2 million euros.
Plus: The 62 witnesses questioned (some of them multiple times) can claim loss of earnings as well as travel and accommodation costs. Which would have to increase the costs by an estimated 13,000 euros.
And, last but not least, the expert reports required in the process: Arafat Abou-Chaker’s brother, Yasser Abou-Chaker, had to be supervised by a separate expert for almost the entire process. The hourly rate here is 100 euros. It is estimated that around 80,000 euros come together for the younger brother alone. In addition, a forensics professor from Vienna was consulted, which cost 23,000 euros – plus travel and accommodation costs as well as his witness compensation, estimated at another 2,000 euros. That’s around 105,000 euros for the reports.
About the process background
Bushido, whose real name is Anis Mohamed Ferchichi, was a witness and co-plaintiff in the criminal proceedings. A large part of the allegations were based on his statements. The rapper did not come to the verdict. He now lives with his family in Dubai.
The prosecution had accused Arafat Abou-Chaker of, among other things, attempted aggravated extortion, deprivation of liberty, coercion, grievous bodily harm and serious breach of trust. Co-defendants were three of Arafat Abou-Chaker’s brothers, aged 42, 46 and 53. They were also acquitted of the allegations against the musician. According to the verdict, the main defendant and one of his brothers will receive compensation for a short period of time they spent in custody.
The public prosecutor’s office had demanded a total sentence of four years, three months and one week in prison for the main defendant. For his brothers, she requested total sentences ranging from seven months probation to two years and one month in prison. The defense had called for acquittals. None of the alleged crimes that should have happened to the rapper have been proven.
The focus of the proceedings was an incident on January 18, 2018, in which Bushido was said to have been held against his will. He was said to have been insulted, threatened and also attacked with a plastic bottle and a chair. The alleged acts were said to have occurred after the musician dissolved relations with his ex-manager in 2017. According to the accusation, he did not want to accept the separation and demanded a million-dollar payment from the rapper and participation in his business for 15 years.
The court had been trying to resolve the case since August 2020. The procedure took place under strict security precautions. Some saw this as a long-awaited blow to clan crime because Bushido showed no fear. This is different in many trials against members of large families who are linked to organized crime. The term clan crime is also controversial because, according to critics, it stigmatizes and discriminates against people with a migrant background based solely on their family affiliation and origin.