Blog
We inform you about Criminal Law and Tax Law
Update: Cannabis decriminalisation decided
Last Friday, after numerous debates, the Bundestag passed the law for the controlled use of cannabis (Cannabis Act), enabling controlled legalization of cannabis. Starting April 1, 2024, the cultivation and possession of certain amounts of cannabis for adults will be legal and, thus, no longer punishable.
Hygiene offences in the catering trade
The Göttingen district regularly inspects restaurants and food-processing businesses, resulting in many establishments being placed on a public list for hygiene violations. Although the published information does not qualify as an official warning, appearing on this hygiene violation list can damage reputations and lead to significant financial losses.
Cum-Ex scandal part III: Three-and-a-half-year prison sentence for Ulf Johannemann
In the multi-million-euro tax scandal involving Cum-Ex stock deals, criminal judges at the Frankfurt District Court delivered their next verdict against one of the actors on January 30, 2024. It is the first time in a Cum-Ex trial that the criminal liability of a tax lawyer from a major law firm has been examined in connection with his tax advice.
MPP lectures at the Law Clinic Criminal Procedure, Georg-August-University Göttingen
This month, Attorney Dr. Anthea Pitschel and Attorney Karl-Heinz Mügge gave a lecture to students at the University of Göttingen. They discussed their professional experience, explained the nuances of criminal defense, and answered students' questions. The lecture was part of the so-called "Law Clinic Criminal Procedure."
Jens Lehmann: When neighbour disputes get out of hand
The former goalkeeper of the German national team faced charges of property damage (§ 303 (1) StGB) and trespassing (§ 123 (1) StGB) in December 2023 before the Starnberg District Court. The true background of the alleged incident appears, as is often the case with neighborhood disputes, rather bizarre.
From manslaughter to obstruction of justice - successful defence by MPP before Göttingen Regional Court
In the manslaughter trial concerning the Ukrainian man killed in May 2023, the defendant, represented by Attorney Mügge, was sentenced to two years in prison for obstruction of justice, with the sentence suspended on probation, despite the prosecution charging him with joint manslaughter.
Upskirting, stealthing, revenge porn and sextortion - the most important facts about the new sexual offences
With the increase in digitalization, some new behaviors have emerged that are now criminally relevant under sexual criminal law. Criminal investigations are becoming increasingly common for offenses like "upskirting," "stealthing," "revenge porn," or "sextortion." But what exactly do these English terms mean?
§ 218 StGB: An archaic remnant of times past?
The socio-political debate on abortion is not just a heated issue in Germany but also internationally. While the so-called "advertising ban on abortions" in § 219a StGB a.F. was removed in Germany in 2022, the criminal offense of abortion remains.
Firecrackers on New Year's Eve: What is the legal situation?
Poppers, rockets, fireworks, and sparklers are staples of a festive New Year's Eve for many. However, "recreational fireworks" are subject to certain rules – and when it comes to handling explosives, the lawmaker takes it very seriously.
Of hashish biscuits and smashed chocolate Santas
On Christmas Eve 2020, a couple from Wismar wanted to enjoy the homemade Christmas cookies baked by their daughter. Shortly after consumption, they were rushed to the hospital with dizziness, nausea, and heart palpitations. It was revealed that their 24-year-old daughter had mixed hashish into the cookie dough – of course, without informing her parents.
Freedom of the press vs. protection of criminal proceedings
Can the press quote or publish from internal documents related to ongoing investigations? The answer is no. Such an action would, under current legislation, constitute a criminal offense under § 353d No. 3 StGB.
The reform of the penal code: an overview
Now it’s official: on November 23, 2023, the Federal Ministry of Justice published a long-awaited key paper on the planned modernization of the Criminal Code. Back in March, the federal government submitted a bill "to revise the sanctioning law," addressing certain questions about legal consequences.
