Berlin Investigation into Online Predator Group
In Berlin, a group known as the “German Driving School for Professionals” is under scrutiny as prosecutors reveal that their Telegram chats were not about legitimate driving instruction. Instead, they allegedly shared stories about their sexual assaults and discussed methods for drugging women.
According to court documents, group members used disturbing euphemisms: they referred to their victims as “cars,” sedatives as “fuel,” and the act of rape as “driving.” Victims were derogatorily labeled “dead pigs,” with some posts including graphic images and videos of their assaults on incapacitated individuals.
Law enforcement is examining years’ worth of messages from several dozen group chats, primarily occupied by Chinese men targeting Chinese women in Germany. This investigation has led to the conviction of three accused members, while a fourth is currently on trial in Berlin.
Dominique Mies, Frankfurt’s chief prosecutor, remarked on the extreme callousness of the perpetrators, highlighting their objectification of victims and meticulous crime planning.
Key aspects of the inquiry remain vague—it’s unclear how many attacks occurred, how many individuals were involved in the chats that reportedly had tens of thousands of participants, and why this network operated without significant interruption. Questions also linger about potential connections to a broader investigation in Europe and the Americas concerning drug-related sexual assaults linked to misogynistic online groups.
Due to strict German privacy laws, prosecutors can only divulge limited information publicly. To protect sensitive content, certain trial segments have required the public’s exit.
This limited disclosure may explain the surprising lack of media focus on this case in Germany. Nonetheless, members of the local Chinese community, particularly women, have shown up in court to support the victims, even if they are strangers to them.
Fu Xiao, who traveled around 500 kilometers to attend the trial, expressed her frustration, stating that it is disheartening to see such hostility towards women and a complete lack of respect for their humanity.
While China’s state media has reported extensively on the situation, discussions on Chinese-language platforms like Red Note have faced censorship. Certain terms can lead to post removals, though indirect references to sensitive topics have survived. Neither China’s Ministry of Public Security nor Red Note has responded to inquiries regarding the matter.
This case is reminiscent of the prolonged abuse suffered by Gisele Pericot, a French woman repeatedly assaulted by her husband and others, which sparked significant conversations about rape culture in France and beyond.
Judge Markus Koppenleitner noted that cases like Pericot’s are not isolated incidents, emphasizing that such issues persist in Germany, China, France, and globally.
Similar investigations are popping up worldwide. Authorities have yet to definitively tie them to German prosecution efforts, but some researchers have found that insights from German cases have been vital to their own progress.
Last year, German investigators alerted Los Angeles police to a suspect involved in a drug-related sexual assault, targeting women after acquiring narcotics from a Chinese national living in Germany. Recently, in the Netherlands, four men were arrested for drugging and abusing women, linked to inquiries by German authorities.
Additionally, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, Europol, is running Project Medusa, aimed at dismantling networks that facilitate drug-induced assaults, with German and British authorities at the forefront—and they have already made dozens of arrests.
This German predator network has operated despite flouting Telegram’s regulations, raising concerns about the platform’s use in criminal activities.
In 2024, Telegram’s founder was detained in Paris over claims that the service supported illegal actions, including drug trafficking. He attributed issues to the sheer number of users, suggesting that the growth made it easier for criminals to exploit the system. Investigations continue.
In a statement, Telegram emphasized that sexual violence violates its terms of service and insisted that they regularly remove harmful content. However, they have not answered questions about the specific German case, particularly concerning the ease with which images and discussions about sexual crimes persisted on the app.
Some chats associated with this network can be traced back to at least 2020. Magdalena Gebhardt, a lawyer for victims involved in earlier Berlin convictions, noted an inner circle of eight offenders, with some groups hosting up to 50,000 members.
Prosecutors say the network came to light in 2024 when a Frankfurt man known as Dapen Z shifted from assaulting acquaintances to preying on strangers he met online.
Cooperation between German and Chinese law enforcement led to the arrest of Dapen Z, identified as the group’s ringleader. He received a 14-year sentence for aggravated rape, attempted murder, and other charges but is currently appealing his conviction.
While authorities haven’t revealed the total number of victims linked to the group, they anticipate that the ongoing investigation might uncover more cases. Some victims only realized they had been assaulted after investigators uncovered video evidence.
The trial for Zhiting S., a suspected key member of the group, is set to conclude soon with a verdict. He reportedly utilized his medical knowledge to advise the group on drugging techniques for assaulting women. Notably, one of his recommendations was allegedly followed prior to an attack in Frankfurt.
Furthermore, he faces accusations of multiple assaults in China, where he is said to have shared recordings of the offenses online.
Zhiting S.’s defense lawyer acknowledged that while his client was part of the chat group, he claimed to have offered little substantial advice. Some charges against him have been dropped, including one related to child abuse material.
