Overview
- Augsburg prosecutors, who announced the charges Thursday, accuse ten former members of the prison’s Sicherungsgruppe, a specially selected team for risky incidents, of assault, unlawful detention and coercion.
- The filing spans 39 incidents against 35 inmates from October 2022 to October 2024 and draws on more than 330 witness interviews and millions of chats and files from seized phones.
- Prosecutors say staff misused bare “secure cells” meant for self-harm or acute danger cases to punish inmates and withheld a mattress and even paper underwear, leaving some naked on the floor for days and nights.
- Part of the case covers alleged assaults on five prisoners during an October 2024 operation at the Neuburg-Herrenwörth youth facility, which the deputy head of the Augsburg prison is said to have allowed.
- The scandal has already prompted Bavaria to tighten rules for these cells with tougher documentation and a 72-hour limit before a judge reviews any continued stay.