Proceedings after kidnapping of vaccination boss Berger are concluded
Published: Wednesday, Dec 20th 2023, 10:41
Updated At: Wednesday, Dec 20th 2023, 10:41
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The Zurich public prosecutor's office has discontinued proceedings following the kidnapping of vaccination boss Christoph Berger. A 38-year-old had kidnapped him in the Zurich Oberland and demanded 300,000 francs. The kidnapper also killed his girlfriend.
The German was killed six days after the kidnapping in spring 2022 in a shootout by the police in Wallisellen. His 28-year-old girlfriend also died in the shootout. According to a statement from the public prosecutor's office on Wednesday, the kidnapper shot the Brazilian woman.
The 38-year-old had demanded the money to support business activities. The Zurich cantonal police found a large number of firearms (assault rifles, pistols, shotguns, submachine guns and revolvers) and several thousand rounds of ammunition in the kidnapper's apartment.
No accomplices identified
The proceedings against an alleged accomplice were discontinued by the public prosecutor's office. 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.
The proceedings surrounding the exchange of fire are still open. The police officers' use of firearms is still being investigated, according to reports. The public prosecutor's office investigates such cases ex officio.
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 the victim to Uster railroad station and let her 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 dispelled by Berger himself afterwards. It was only ever about financial demands, Berger said afterwards.
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