Icon: enlarge
Journalists Modrow, Longardt (center) at a journalist award ceremony
Photo:
Achim Zweygarth / Lichtgut
On an early summer day in 2019, Bastian Modrow is angry.
The reporter for the "Kieler Nachrichten" wrote an article about a powerful policewoman.
Now he reports to an informant.
"Disgusting woman", he types into the cell phone, "stupid cunt".
He has "now even more hatred".
The recipient of the WhatsApp messages is Modrow's confidante and informant: Thomas Nommensen, then vice-president of the German police union.
"Exactly," writes Nommensen.
The previously unknown chat process comes from an extensive investigation file that SPIEGEL was able to view.
The public prosecutor's office in Kiel recently charged Nommensen with treason.
The police superintendent reportedly reported internals to the journalist in ten cases, and there are more than 40 other suspected cases.
The investigators suspect the motives for the urge to be recognized and frustration at the lack of career opportunities.
There is a suspicion in the room that the policeman and the reporter made politics on their own.
Modrow can tell through his editor-in-chief that he does not want to say anything about the allegations.
Nommensen's lawyer also announced that he did not want to comment on the allegations until further notice.
He denies the alleged motives of his client.
Read more with Spiegel Plus
More perspectives, more understanding.
Your advantages with SPIEGEL +
Icon: Check
DER SPIEGEL as a magazine
as an app, e-paper and on the e-reader
Icon: Check
All articles on SPIEGEL.de
Exclusive texts for SPIEGEL + readers
Icon: Check
Try one month for free
Cancel anytime online
A price
only € 19.99 per month
One month for € 0.00
Try now for 0.00 € Buy nowArrow to the right
Already have a digital subscription? Register here
Restore iTunes subscription
SPIEGEL + is processed via your iTunes account and paid for with a purchase confirmation.
24 hours before it expires, the subscription is automatically renewed by one month at the current price of € 19.99.
You can cancel the subscription at any time in the settings of your iTunes account.
In order to use SPIEGEL + outside of this app, you have to link the subscription to a SPIEGEL ID account immediately after purchase.
With the purchase you accept our general terms and conditions and privacy policy.