On May 27 (Berlin time), according to The Guardian, the Verden regional court of Germany sentenced Daniela Klette, 67, to 13 years in prison on charges related to a series of armed robberies.
Klette was once a member of the far-left Red Army Faction (RAF), also known as the Baader-Meinhof group. This is an organization that caused a series of attacks, kidnappings, bombings and assassinations in West Germany in the 1970s-1980s.
According to the court's ruling, Klette was convicted in 6 serious robberies related to kidnapping for ransom and possession of military weapons.
Prosecutors said the robberies took place in the period from 1999 to 2016, many years after the RAF announced its dissolution. German authorities believe that the robbed money was used to maintain the secrecy of RAF members who were still on the run.
Judge Lars Engelke said that this group carried out the robberies in a "clearly assigned role and extremely secretive operation".
Klette was arrested at an apartment in Kreuzberg district, Berlin in February 2024 after more than 3 decades on the run. Klette lived under a false identity and participated in many community activities without being detected.
Police said they found many weapons, fake papers, wigs, gold and about 240,000 euros (about 261,000 USD) in cash in Klette's apartment.
According to the investigation, Klette and 2 accomplices Burkhard Garweg and Ernst-Volker Staub are suspected of robbing more than 2 million euros (about 2.17 million USD), these 2 people are still on the run.
In the 14-month trial with strict security, Klette denied the charges.
The RAF was once considered one of the most dangerous extremist organizations in Germany after World War II. This group is believed to be behind the deaths of at least 30 people and injuring about 200 others.
