A decision regarding the ongoing pre-trial detention of former BND President August Hanning could be made shortly. His defense attorney filed a motion challenging the detention on October 23rd. The statement from the Federal Public Prosecutor has since been submitted to the Federal Court of Justice, a BGH spokesperson told the “Welt” on Wednesday. The investigating judge is expected to swiftly decide whether to accommodate the motion or refer it to the relevant Criminal Senate. Hanning was detained on October 6th and has been held in pre-trial custody ever since.
His defense insists that the requirements for the detention order are not justified. According to the lawyer, the information in question must genuinely qualify as state secrets, noting that not every document classified as sensitive or confidential meets this essential criterion.
Furthermore, he argues that there is no flight risk, pointing out that the initial investigation occurred over a year ago, and Hanning has not fled. The defense lawyer also considers the detention excessive, citing Hanning’s advanced age, his health status, and the expected length of the legal proceedings. They warn that the pre-trial detention runs the risk of transforming into a preemptive prison sentence.
