By Daniel Weinmann
The “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” described him as “a kind of pop star of the German underworld”. Arafat Abou-Chaker’s reputation extends far beyond Berlin’s criminal milieu. Deprivation of liberty, attempted aggravated predatory extortion and bodily harm are the order of the day for the Berlin clan boss.
“I love to see something like this,” the man born in the capital in 1976 commented on Hamas’ attack on Israel on Instagram. He first became known in 2008 when he took over the management company of rapper Bushido. So far, the judiciary has been unable – or unwilling – to do much to harm the clan. Strange memory lapses on the part of witnesses often contribute to the goodwill of the authorities. The intimidation of witnesses is commonplace in this milieu – and obviously very effective in averting high penalties.
Special privileges in sentencing also appear to be enjoyed by family members of Arafat Abou-Chakers. The most recent example: His older brother Ali allegedly tried to force a debtor to hand over money with a machete in late December 2020.
"The machete was not physically used by my client".
According to the indictment, he and two co-defendants attempted to “coerce” an Italian man “into handing over money allegedly owed to him by holding various weapons. At first it was about 4,000, then 10,000 euros. “I didn’t threaten Toni, I didn’t blackmail him. Especially not with a machete,” Chaker said, according toBild. At the time, he had consumed alcohol and cocaine. But he had known exactly what he wanted. In addition, he had not been aggressive.
For the prosecutor, the case was clear: the bushwhacking knife was a threatening device to demonstrate the power of the financier. The borrower had allowed himself to be “patted down and money taken out of his pocket out of fear.” Their demand: three years and three months imprisonment.
The defense attorney tried to protect his client by saying, “The machete was not physically used by my client.” According to the motto “Don’t come near me,” it had merely had a warning function. In addition, the debtor had always been armed.
"Not a witness you could put anything on".
Hardly surprising in matters like this, the court agreed: “The gun was for self-protection. We assume that.” According to witnesses, the Italian liked to portray himself as dangerous. Merely carrying a machete is not punishable, the judges said. At most a misdemeanor. However, the statute of limitations had expired in the meantime. Also not punishable is the patting down of the man. And the money found with him, Chaker had returned to the debtor. Sounds basically like a fairy tale.
If it were not for the Italian, who is said to have shot Ali Abou-Chaker and two of his companions abruptly from behind despite the lack of a threat situation. Chaker was hit in the back, one of his faithful in the stomach.
In the verdict, the judge at the Berlin Regional Court speaks of a “thin evidence base”. Eyewitnesses were either unavailable or referred to their right to refuse to testify: “No witness to give evidence. In addition, there were different statements of the Italian from during the investigation. Conclusion: Ali Abou-Chaker is a free man.
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Daniel Weinmann worked for many years as an editor for one of the best-known German media. He writes here under a pseudonym.
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