Hungary's Controversial Eight-Year Sentence for Maja T. Sparks Outrage in Germany
Maja T. has been sentenced to eight years in prison by a Budapest court for attempted grievous bodily harm and involvement in a criminal organization. The verdict follows a trial that German politicians and legal experts have criticized as unfair. Meanwhile, calls for her transfer to Germany are growing louder.
The prosecution initially sought a 24-year sentence but later proposed a 14-year plea deal. In the end, the court handed down an eight-year term—a result her defense lawyer, Sven Richwin, described as a setback for the prosecution. Richwin also suggested that, if transferred to Germany, part of her sentence could be reduced due to Hungary's stricter prison conditions.
German political figures have reacted strongly to the case. Carmen Wegge of the SPD claimed that core rule-of-law principles were undermined during the trial. The SPD is now exploring legal ways to bring Maja T. back to Germany. Helge Limburg, speaking for the Green Party, accused Hungary of failing to provide a fair trial and urged the federal government to intervene.
Luke Hoß from the Left Party condemned the sentence as excessive and demanded her immediate transfer. The Green Party has also called for the government to address what they see as damage to legal standards and ensure a retrial in Germany.
Hungarian authorities have stated they will follow standard EU procedures and transfer Maja T. to Germany. However, no official German response to the Federal Constitutional Court's earlier ruling on her extradition has been recorded, leaving questions about broader diplomatic effects unanswered.
The eight-year sentence has sparked debate over judicial fairness and international legal cooperation. If transferred, Maja T. may serve a reduced term under German law. For now, political and legal efforts continue to secure her return from Hungary.
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