Trial against Hells Angels set to start in Spain

MADRID — (AP) — The trial of a former chief of the Hells Angels in Europe is about to begin on Monday in Madrid.

German nationwide Frank Hanebuth is being tried alongside 49 alleged worldwide collaborators for operating a chapter of the bike membership on the Spanish resort island of Mallorca that was allegedly concerned in organized crime.

He was seen arriving at courtroom an hour earlier than the scheduled begin time for the trial. A complete of 46 defendants had been current within the courtroom, whereas three others had been anticipated to present proof by videoconference.

The start of the session was delayed as among the attorneys tried to rearrange plea agreements for his or her defendants. It wasn’t instantly clear if Hanebuth’s lawyer was one among them.

Spanish prosecutors are looking for a 13-year jail sentence for Hanebuth on expenses of membership in a prison group, cash laundering and unlawful possession of firearms. In addition they are demanding a $4.5 million (4.2 million-euro) high quality for the cash laundering cost.

Different alleged main members are additionally charged with operating a prostitution ring and drug trafficking, and withstand 38 years in jail.

Based on the prosecutor’s indictment, the Hells Angels carried out unlawful actions in Mallorca from 2009 to 2013 beneath Hanebuth’s management. He allegedly appointed members who then carried out crimes together with extortion, pimping, buying unlawful firearms and theft in in style vacationer spots.

In addition they moved into actual property on Mallorca and close by island Ibiza. The accused didn’t restrict themselves to using Harley-Davidsons. One in every of Hanebuth’s fellow defendants has been cited as driving a Bentley at 125 mph (200 kph) in a 75-mph (120-kph) pace zone earlier than being pulled over by police.

The trial is predicted to final a number of weeks.

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A earlier model of this story has been corrected to indicate that Hanebuth is now not a frontrunner of the Hells Angels.

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