In the ongoing trial of prominent kidnapper Thomas Drach, a key figure is set to return to the witness stand soon. This was confirmed by a Cologne district court spokesperson following an inquiry by the German Press Agency (dpa). The 55-year-old Dutch defendant, who had his trial separated from Drach's due to health reasons in the summer, has been summoned to testify on November 23. Drach's legal team requested his presence, citing his potential ability to clear Drach's name.
Thomas Drach, accused of four robberies of cash-in-transit vehicles in Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, and Limburg, Hesse, along with an attempted murder charge for shooting at two money carriers, now faces an extended trial due to this development. The Dutchman, accused by the public prosecutor's office of aiding and abetting the robberies, was previously called to testify in September, but his appearance was delayed due to claims by his lawyer about insufficient preparation time.
With the onset of fresh trial days scheduled for next year, the situation surrounding Thomas Drach is more complicated than ever. The complexities stem from motions for recusal filed by Drach's defense team against the court, leading to uncertainty regarding the progression of legal proceedings.
In 1996, Drach infamously kidnapped the heir to the Hamburg tobacco dynasty, Reemtsma, only releasing him following payment of the ransom. Convicted and sentenced to 14.5 years in prison, Drach's incredible past activities remain a central point of interest in the ongoing trial.
While the Dutch co-defendant's testimony could influence the proceedings with his potential exoneration of Drach, insight into his criminal background might also surface, offering another perspective on the complex web of related crimes. Regrettably, the sources analyzed in this context did not provide information on Drach's Dutch co-defendant or their own criminal history. More detailed investigations of the Thomas Drach trial and any potential co-defendants would require perusal of specific legal documents and news reports.
