Penalties increased against the Basel bombers
Published: Monday, Apr 8th 2024, 16:40
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The Appeals Chamber of the Federal Criminal Court has increased the prison sentences for two young men from Basel from 60 to 64 and from 74 to 84 months. The court considers it proven that the two detonated a bomb in Basel's Bruderholz district in March 2022.
The court found them guilty of endangering with explosives and toxic gases with criminal intent, qualified damage to property and attempted manufacture, concealment and distribution of explosives and toxic gases. The former was also convicted of violating the Weapons Act, as was announced on Monday.
The second convict, who will soon be 26 years old, received a full sentence. The appeal chamber revoked a conditional custodial sentence of 20 months imposed by the Basel-Landschaft Criminal Court in November 2020.
The young Basel residents detonated a bomb at a detached house in Basel in 2022. They caused property damage of around 170,000 francs. They wanted to frighten the owners and later demand a ransom. However, this never happened.
Falling into the trap
A few months after the explosives attack, the young men drove to Stuttgart in Germany, where they wanted to buy 4 kilograms of plastic explosives. However, the supposed seller turned out to be a German police investigator and the two Swiss men were arrested.
In its judgment, the Appeals Chamber largely supports the view of the first instance, as can be seen from a press release published on Monday. On the issue of a Taser found on the 28-year-old Basel resident, however, the appeals chamber ruled differently. It considers it sufficiently proven that the device belongs to the young man.
Contrary to the request of the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (BA), the appeal chamber also acquitted the men of the charge of criminal preparatory acts. The OAG is of the opinion that the preparations for further attacks with the explosives to be procured were already so far advanced and concrete that they are punishable.
The two Basel residents intended to detonate the bombs at the homes of wealthy Basel residents in order to get them to pay millions in bitcoins. They wanted to get enough money before their 30th birthday so that they would never have to work again.
Blabbed on the phone
The older man told a colleague on the phone that he had concrete evidence that they had planted and detonated the bomb in the Bruderholz district. However, he did not know that he had been bugged.
Both before the Trial Chamber and the Appeals Chamber, the defendants made extensive use of their right to refuse to testify. While the 28-year-old was the man of the crime, the younger one organized and planned and instructed his colleague on what to do.
The 26-year-old was sentenced by the Basel-Landschaft Criminal Court for attempted extortion, criminal preparatory acts for robbery, violation of the Explosives Act and multiple violations of the Weapons Act.
The judgment is not yet final and can be appealed to the Federal Supreme Court. (Judgment CA.2023.32 of 4.4.2024)
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