Shots fired at kidnappers of former vaccination chief go unpunished
Published: Friday, Dec 20th 2024, 15:00
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The public prosecutor's office has dropped the case against four police officers following the fatal shooting of the kidnapper of former vaccination boss Christoph Berger. The kidnapper was killed during a police operation in Wallisellen ZH in 2022. He had previously drawn a gun.
The police reacted proportionately, the Zurich public prosecutor's office announced on Friday. The kidnapper had pulled out a gun, shot and killed his girlfriend who was sitting next to him in the car. This was after he had been stopped by two police vehicles.
The police officers should have "neutralized" the danger posed by the man, it continues. In addition to the use of firearms, the previous operational planning was also investigated. The public prosecutor's office found no breaches of duty.
The discontinuation order in the proceedings against the four police officers, aged 34 to 41, is not yet legally binding.
300,000 francs requested
The 38-year-old perpetrator had kidnapped Berger, the former president of the Federal Commission for Vaccination Issues, in the Zurich Oberland and demanded 300,000 francs. However, he let the former head of vaccination go.
The 38-year-old had demanded the money to support business activities. In the kidnapper's apartment, the Zurich cantonal police found a large number of firearms (assault rifles, pistols, shotguns, submachine guns and revolvers) acquired in accordance with the regulations, as well as several thousand rounds of ammunition.
No accomplices identified
The proceedings against an alleged accomplice were discontinued by the public prosecutor's office at the end of 2023. The 34-year-old was remanded in custody for around a month.
There was a strong suspicion that he was involved in the planning and execution of the crime. He was the kidnapper's business partner. However, the suspicion could not be substantiated. No other possible perpetrators were identified.
No connection with the pandemic
The 38-year-old kidnapped the victim on the evening of March 31, 2022, drove with him to a wooded area in the Pfannenstiel region, threatened him with a weapon and demanded the money. He then drove with Berger to Uster train station and let him go again shortly before midnight. Berger was held for around an hour.
Speculation that the kidnapper was an opponent of the measures who abducted Berger because of his role during the pandemic was subsequently dispelled by Berger himself. According to Berger, it was only ever about financial demands.
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