Jens Spahn (CDU), former Minister of Health Photo: Kay Nietfeld/dpa
From BZ/dpa
A co-organizer of demonstrations against corona measures in Berlin has been fined 4,500 euros for defamation against people in political life.
The journalist and dramaturge Anselm Lenz was co-editor of a club magazine in September 2020, on the cover of which the then Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn (CDU) was denigrated, the Berlin-Tiergarten District Court justified on Monday. The statement is not covered by freedom of expression.
According to the indictment, the then Federal Minister of Health was untruthfully described in the publication as a “cocaine addict”.
It was a dishonorable allegation, it said in the public prosecutor’s plea. The judge agreed to the prosecutor’s request with a fine of 90 daily rates of 50 euros each. The verdict is not yet legally binding.
The 42-year-old’s defense attorney had demanded acquittal and said it was satire that fell under freedom of expression. The publication was made in connection with a demonstration against the German Corona policy.
A fine of 4,800 euros (120 daily rates of 40 euros each) was issued against Lenz. He had lodged an objection to this.
The native of Hamburg has to answer to corona measures in further proceedings for alleged acts during demonstrations in Berlin. In this case, the first trial attempt had failed. A new date is not yet known.