Karlsruhe: Germany's top criminal court has confirmed the prison sentences for several ringleaders involved in a planned coup and a plot to kidnap a minister. The Federal Court of Justice (BGH), located in the city of Karlsruhe, has rejected the appeals of four defendants against a judgement by the Koblenz Higher Regional Court from March 2025.
According to Ghana News Agency, the group was accused of establishing or participating in a terrorist organization known as the 'United Patriots.' They were alleged to have been preparing treasonous acts against the government, including a plan to kidnap former health minister Karl Lauterbach. At the time of their arrests in early 2022, Lauterbach was prominent in Germany for leading the government's coronavirus pandemic containment policies.
The court sentenced the four ringleaders to prison terms ranging from five years and nine months to eight years, with a fifth defendant receiving two years and ten months. Despite their appeals, the BGH found no legal errors in the original judgement.
According to the indictment, the group's aim was to throw Germany into disarray. Their plan included bombing attacks to disrupt the national power supply, kidnapping Lauterbach during a talk show, and neutralizing his bodyguards. They intended to overthrow the government, appoint new leaders in a constituent assembly, and reinstate the 1871 imperial constitution. The plot also involved an actor appearing on television as the German president or chancellor to announce the dismissal of the federal government.
An undercover investigator, who had offered to sell weapons, played a crucial role in the arrest of the accused individuals, as revealed in court documents.