Four disgruntled pensioners have appeared in a German court, accused of tying up and holding hostage their financial advisor after sustaining heavy losses in US property investments.
The four, two married couples aged between 63 and 79, as well as an alleged co-conspirator, have been charged with ambushing the 56-year-old advisor, tying him up with tape and driving him across Germany, holding him hostage for four days last June.
The hostage made a bid for freedom during the 455km journey, when the kidnappers let him out of the boot of the car for air, but he was recaptured and sustained two broken ribs in the struggle.
The defendants then allegedly tied the advisor up in a cellar and forced him to sign documents promising to recoup some €2.5m in rotten investments.
However, according to media reports, the advisor managed to encode a secret SOS message in a fax to a Swiss colleague, who called the police.
A team of commandos stormed the address, which they had worked out using details from the fax.
The defendants gave themselves up without resistance.
A verdict in the case is expected on 23 March.
The main suspect, identified only as Roland K, faces up to 15 years behind bars.
If convicted, he would be released just before his 90th birthday.
One of the suspects, 67-year-old Gerhard F, did not appear in court Monday due to ill health.
