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Anna-Maria Ferchichi was excused in court (archive picture 2012)
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Raimund Müller / imago images
The trial of Arafat Abou-Chaker and three of his brothers before the Berlin Regional Court has stalled.
On Monday, the wife of rapper Bushido was supposed to continue her testimony after a four-week break.
But Anna-Maria Ferchichi did not appear.
The 39-year-old is pregnant with triplets.
It is a high risk pregnancy.
Singer Sarah Connor's sister told the court that further interrogation would only be possible after the birth of her three girls, probably from November.
Her testimony had already been canceled due to complications in pregnancy.
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In addition to Anis Ferchichi alias Bushido, his wife Anna-Maria is one of the most important witnesses in the trial against Arafat Abou-Chaker.
The clan boss has had to answer to court since August 2020 on charges of attempted severe predatory extortion, deprivation of liberty, insult, coercion and dangerous bodily harm.
Bushido accuses Abou-Chaker of forcing him to work together from 2004 and exploiting him for years.
The rapper is a joint plaintiff in the process.
Abou-Chaker, 45, denies the allegations.
Bushido, 42, had testified in court that he only dared to break away from Abou-Chaker on the initiative of his wife.
The clan chief is said to have not accepted the separation and threatened, insulted and attacked him with a half-full plastic bottle and a chair in January 2018.
"None of this makes a good impression"
The defense expressed displeasure on Monday at Anna-Maria Ferchichi's absence.
Abou-Chaker's lawyer Hansgeorg Birkhoff said in court that the witness could be considered excused due to the high-risk pregnancy.
Nevertheless, the impression arises that "a pregnancy is used here strategically".
The defense attorney recalled that the witness had previously made the court wait because the Ferchichi family was on vacation in Dubai.
It seems as if the witness decide "on a whim" when to appear in the trial, he said.
"None of that makes a good impression."
Senior Public Prosecutor Petra Leister defended the witness.
"It has become sufficiently clear that Ms. Ferchichi would very much like to testify," she said.
more on the subject
Bushido's wife as a witness in court: "There was no Bushido without Arafat Abou-Chaker" By Wiebke Ramm
Bushido's wife and her statements in court: "My husband is actually very dominant, but as far as Arafat was concerned, he was submissive" Von Wiebke Ramm
Bushido's wife: Anna-Maria Ferchichi accuses Abou-Chaker of “complete surveillance”
Bushido and the Abou-Chakers: "I knew I was making a huge mistake" By Lothar Gorris and Philipp Oehmke
Testimony from Bushido's wife in the trial against Abou-Chaker: When the »gold donkey« mucked on Von Wiebke Ramm, Berlin
The presiding judge did not seem entirely convinced.
"I can understand your displeasure very well," he agreed with the defense.
To be continued in two weeks
Instead of Bushido's wife, the trial should continue in two weeks with the interrogation of Ashraf Rammo.
Ashraf Rammo belongs to another Berlin clan.
The court has reserved several days for his testimony.
After separating from Abou-Chaker, Bushido turned to Ashraf Rammo in 2018.
Rammo became his manager.
"Ashraf Rammo is a very friendly gentleman," Bushido said in court.
"I also felt very safe when I was out and about with him in Berlin."
The rapper's cooperation with Rammo ended when Bushido cooperated with the police and testified against Abou-Chaker.
The rapper, his wife and children have been under police protection since January 2019.
It remains to be seen whether Ashraf Rammo will actually testify in court on August 16.
Rammo had not followed an initial summons of witnesses.