Trial in Feldkirch

Dealing cocaine in broad daylight

He arrived in handcuffs and was taken away in handcuffs: Whether the Chechen will be allowed to undergo therapy depends on the outcome of the psychological assessment.

(Bild: Dorn Chantall/Krone KREATIV)

A 20-year-old Chechen drug dealer was sentenced to prison on Tuesday at Feldkirch Regional Court. He had not disguised his shady dealings very well. 

What used to take place late at night and in dark alleyways has now become a public act - drug dealing in Vorarlberg. This is also the case with the Chechen (20), who has several previous convictions, has a massive drug problem himself and still lives with his mother in the lowlands. This time, the man has been charged with unauthorized handling of drugs and theft in the period from April to the beginning of August this year. Not only did he himself consume marijuana and cocaine heavily during this time, he also did not shy away from carrying out his drug deals in the middle of the day in Dornbirn's pedestrian zone. After stealing almost 45 grams of the white powder from another dealer, he was finally arrested.

During the trial, the accused pleaded guilty to the charges. When asked by Judge Sabrina Tagwercher how he envisioned his future, he replied: "I urgently need therapy." Defense lawyer Michael Hofer points to the defendant's strong family ties: "Mother and siblings do everything for my client."

Due to the many previous convictions, the judge nevertheless imposes eight months' imprisonment. In addition, a conditional suspended sentence of seven months from a previous conviction was revoked. This means a total of 15 months in prison. The suspended sentence is extended to five years. Whether the application for therapy instead of punishment is approved now depends on a psychological report. The sentence is final.