German Woman Sentenced in Hungary Sparks Outrage Over Trial Fairness
A Budapest court has sentenced German citizen Maja T. to eight years in prison for attempted grievous bodily harm and membership in a criminal organization. The verdict has triggered sharp criticism from German politicians, who question the fairness of the trial under Hungary's legal system. Opposition parties are now pushing for her transfer to Germany for a new hearing.
The prosecution initially sought a 24-year prison term before offering a 14-year plea deal. In the end, the court handed down an eight-year sentence, which Maja T.'s lawyer, Sven Richwin, described as a setback for the prosecution.
Criticism of the trial has been widespread. Luke Hoß of the Left Party condemned the sentence as disproportionate and accused Viktor Orbán's government of undermining judicial standards. Helge Limburg from the Green Party argued that Hungary had failed to provide a fair trial under the rule of law. He urged the federal government to take action, both to repair damage to legal principles and to secure Maja T.'s return.
SPD politician Carmen Wegge echoed these concerns, questioning whether basic rule-of-law standards had been upheld. She called for an immediate review of legal avenues to bring Maja T. back to Germany. If the conviction is finalised, Richwin plans to formally request her transfer.
The German government's response has so far been limited. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) announced efforts to improve Maja T.'s prison conditions but has not succeeded in securing her repatriation. No formal steps, such as a Rücküberstellung (transfer of proceedings), have been taken since the Federal Constitutional Court's earlier ruling.
The case has exposed tensions between German and Hungarian legal systems. While opposition parties demand concrete measures to bring Maja T. to Germany, the government has yet to implement a formal transfer request. Her lawyer's next move depends on whether the verdict becomes final in the coming weeks.
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