Germany: Man accused of 22 rapes, 58 alleged victims

The Berlin prosecutor's office has announced the indictment of a 68-year-old man suspected of drugging, sexually assaulting, and filming numerous women. Investigators say they have identified alleged offenses involving 58 women.

The indictment sent to the Berlin regional court currently relates to 22 aggravated rapes targeting 14 women. The suspect is also being prosecuted for dangerous bodily harm and violation of image rights, according to an official statement released on Tuesday, July 14.

Women met on dating platforms

According to the prosecutor's office, the suspect met the women on online dating platforms. He allegedly administered a mixture of sleeping pills and alcohol to them before assaulting them while they were unconscious.

The alleged crimes took place in Berlin between 2016 and 2022. The suspect, an electrician by profession according to several German media outlets, has not responded to the accusations at this stage.

The 14 women already interviewed did not remember the alleged assaults. They learned of them during the investigation, when the police informed them of the videos found on the seized devices.

The German justice system must now decide whether the indictment will be accepted and whether a trial will be held. The suspect benefits from the presumption of innocence until a final decision is reached.

Videos discovered during a computer forensics investigation

The investigation began in March 2025 following a report from the police in Verden an der Aller, Lower Saxony. Investigators were working on similar allegations against another man, who has since died, and had found correspondence with the Berliner.

An initial search was conducted at the suspect's home on March 21, 2025. Several digital devices were seized at that time. According to the prosecutor's office, an expert discovered numerous videos in February 2026 depicting alleged sexual offenses.

A second search took place on March 3, 2026. The suspect was arrested the same day and placed in pre-trial detention, where he remains.

Investigators have identified 58 suspected victims.

Analysis of the videos led authorities to identify 58 women who may have been victims of assault. Fourteen of them are involved in the 22 incidents already included in the indictment.

Thirty other women have been identified, but investigations are continuing in a separate case. Ten alleged victims have not yet been identified. For three women, the evidence gathered has not been sufficient to establish a suspicion at this stage.

The prosecution also investigated 36 alleged incidents involving another woman between 2010 and 2014. These cases were dropped due to the statute of limitations and the impossibility of proving with sufficient certainty the use of force as defined by German law.

The prosecution is requesting a security measure after the sentence

The prosecution is seeking a conviction and hopes that a security measure can be ordered following any potential prison sentence. It maintains that there is currently no evidence to support a finding of diminished or abolished criminal responsibility.

The case has reignited the debate in Germany on drug-facilitated sexual assault and statutes of limitations. The government has proposed tougher penalties when substances are used to commit sexual assault or theft.

Authorities still need to identify the unknown women, interview other alleged victims, and establish responsibility in each case. The Berlin court has not yet announced a trial date.