Justice: Lawyer: Investigations into SPD MP Ahmetovic

The Hanover public prosecutor's office is investigating the Bundestag member and chairman of the SPD Hanover, Adis Ahmetovic. This was confirmed by authority spokesman Oliver Eisenhauer at the request of the German Press Agency. Ahmetovic "learned that the public prosecutor's office is also investigating him," says a statement from lawyer Holger Nitz, to which Ahmetovic's office referred. The “Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung” had previously reported.

What exactly this is about is unclear. Eisenhauer did not provide any information about the specific allegations “for reasons of investigative tactics”. The public prosecutor's office is in contact with Ahmetovic's defense attorney, the spokesman said. The lawyer's statement states that Ahmetovic has nothing to blame himself for.

The lawyer's statement also refers to the case in which investigations are underway against Berlin SPD state politician Steffen Krach - without making it clear whether and to what extent there is a connection.

“My client wants complete transparency”

The lawyer wrote that they contacted the public prosecutor's office immediately and indicated their willingness to cooperate fully. Unfortunately, the public prosecutor's office has not yet agreed to this.

“My client wants complete transparency, but we have been denied access to the files that we immediately requested,” it continues. “Without knowledge of the files and therefore the details of what he is actually accused of, my client cannot defend himself against the inaccurate accusation.”

Investigations against two other SPD politicians

The lawyer prefaced his remarks by pointing out that the Hanover public prosecutor's office was conducting a criminal investigation in connection with the tender for a clinic in Lehrte near Hanover. This complex involves, among other things, an initial suspicion of accepting advantages in two cases against the Berlin SPD parliamentary group leader Krach. Krach rejects all allegations.

Lower Saxony's SPD parliamentary group leader Stefan Politze is also being investigated in this context. Politze said on Wednesday after his immunity as a member of the state parliament was lifted that he currently had nothing to blame himself for.

Ahmetovic has been sitting in the Bundestag for the SPD since 2021

It is not clear from the lawyer's message whether the investigation into Ahmetovic announced by the lawyer is connected to the tender in Lehrte. When asked, the public prosecutor's office also did not confirm such a connection and once again referred to tactical reasons for the investigation.

Ahmetovic has been sitting in the Bundestag for the SPD since 2021. He has been chairman of the SPD in Hanover since 2020. Previously, he worked, among other things, as personal advisor to the then Prime Minister of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil.