GERMANY: Total objector to be sentenced twice - trial on 24 September

War Resisters' International was informed today by the Germany based network of total objectors, that total objector Torsten Froese will be on trial for his total objection on 24 September 2001, although he was already sentenced once to three month suspended sentence in 1993 (!).

Torsten Froese refused to do military and substitute service, and was sentenced for "fleeing from service" (Art 53 Law on Civilian Service) as long back as 1993. He was sentenced to three month imprisonment, which was suspended.In 1996 Torsten Froese was again called up for substitute service. Of course, he didn't follow this call.

The Federal Office of Civilian Service (Bundesamt fuer den Zivildienst) forced through a second trial, although the prosecutor and also the General Office of Prosecutors refused to open a case, because according to the German constitution it is unconstitutionally to judge and sentence someone twice for the same "crime".

When the trial opened on 23 June 1998, the judge refused to allow Torsten Froese legal representatives Joerg Eichler and Detlev Beutner - both total objectors themselves - to hand in an application to be accepted as Torsten Froese's legal representatives. When because of this Torsten Froese and his legal representatives left the court room to draft an application to refuse the judge for reasons of being prejudiced, she ordered an arrest warrant against Torsten Froese. He was arrested immediately, and the court room was cleared by police using brutal force. Froese was kept in prison for 16 days.

When the trial was continued on 25 January 1999 with another judge - because the application to remove the first judge was successful - the trial was closed because it was considered to be unconstitutional to judge Torsten Froese twice. The prosecutors office filed an appeal against this decision.

At the same time a second case was opened for "resisting police and causing harm", because Torsten Froese defended himself against being arrested on 23 June 1998. In this case Froese was sentenced to nine month suspended sentence, against which he filed an appeal.

Both cases were merged now, and will be dealt with on 24 September.

War Resisters' International calls for support to Torsten Froese. Letters of support can be sent to:

Torsten Froese DFG-VK Frankfurt Muehlgasse 1360468 Frankfurt Germany email: dfgvkffm@t-online.de