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Hannover Court Sets Trial Over Alleged Non-Consensual Festival Kisses on Police Commissioner

A main hearing follows the defendants’ rejection of penalty orders, with 14 witnesses summoned for January 29.

Overview

  • Prosecutors charge a 44-year-old and a 34-year-old with sexual harassment for an incident during the July 2025 Schützenausmarsch.
  • The men allegedly held the officer by the upper arm, said “old custom, good manners,” and kissed her on each cheek without consent.
  • Both defendants are members of the Hildesheimer Junggesellenkompanie, and a company member has described such kisses as an old custom.
  • Penalty orders of €2,100 each had been issued, but their objections triggered the full trial.
  • German law allows fines or prison terms of up to two years for sexual harassment, and the officer reported feeling overwhelmed by the unsolicited contact.