2 Min

Hells Angels leader to face trial in Spain

The first hearing of the trial of a Hells Angels leader accused of money laundering and illegal possession of firearms is set to start in Madrid.

January 24, 2023

By Jennifer O'Mahony

24 January 2023

The first hearing of the trial of a Hells Angels leader in Europe is set to start in Madrid.

German national Frank Hanebuth is being tried alongside 46 alleged international collaborators for running a chapter of the motorcycle club on the Spanish resort island of Mallorca that was allegedly involved in organised crime.

Spanish prosecutors are seeking a 13-year prison sentence for him on charges of membership in a criminal organisation, money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.

They are also demanding a $US4.5 million ($A6.4 million) fine for the money laundering charge.

Other alleged leading members are also charged with running a prostitution ring and drug trafficking and face up to 38 years in prison.

According to the prosecutor’s indictment, the Hells Angels conducted illegal activities in Mallorca from 2009 to 2013 under Hanebuth’s leadership.

He allegedly appointed members who then carried out crimes including extortion, pimping, acquiring illegal firearms and robbery in popular tourist spots.

They also moved into real estate on Mallorca and the nearby island of Ibiza.

The accused didn’t limit themselves to riding Harley-Davidsons.

One of Hanebuth’s fellow defendants has been cited as driving a Bentley at 200km/h in a 120km/h speed zone before being pulled over by police.

The trial is expected to last several weeks.

More in Top Stories

Russia launches air attacks on Ukraine

‘Nine Palestinians killed’ in Israeli raid

Biden to restart rapid screenings at U.S.-Mexico border

Possibly ‘oldest’ mummy yet found in Egypt

Biden attacks Republicans over debt threat

Wall Street closes up as GDP data eases recession worries

Officers charged over Tyre Nichols’ death

Ukraine faces deadly Russian missile onslaught after securing tanks from allies

Asteroid to zip by close to earth

Elvis Presley’s address book, other items up for auction

Ukraine seeks fighter jets after tanks

Boeing pleads not guilty to fraud charge in 737 MAX arraignment

US says Hive ransomware gang taken down

Vinicius Jr expects action over hate crime

U.S. lawsuit against Google could benefit Apple and others

Ex-Wagner commander witnessed comrades shot for fleeing

Ukraine officials who shirk wartime duties will be quickly removed -Zelenskiy aide

Jury convicts New York bike path killer

US military kills IS leader in Somalia

Trump lawyer Eastman should be disbarred, California regulators say

Haiti police riot over officer killings

Biden's Ambition The bill US President Joe Biden signed provides tens of billions of dollars in new aid to Ukraine.

Republicans demand Biden negotiate on debt limit

Germany, US to send tanks to help Ukraine

Facebook reinstates Trump after suspension

Germany sends tanks, Ukraine quits Soledar

Wall Street slides from 5 month highs

Ukraine and Russia: what you need to know

Cloud A network outage affected millions of Microsoft Cloud users across the globe.

Microsoft cloud outage hits users globally

Sesame St co-creator Lloyd Morrisett dies

Northern California Fatal Shooting Chunli Zhao is the lone suspect in Monday's massacre at two mushroom farms near San Francisco.

Farm worker charged over US gun rampage

IOC gives green light for Russia, Belarus

Germany Train Attack A suspected attacker has been arrested after two people were killed on a train in northern Germany.

Two killed in knife attack on German train

Spain Attack One person was killed in Wednesday's attack outside the church in Algeciras, Spain.

One dead in blade attack at Spanish church

California reels from two gun massacres

Ukraine purges governors of five regions

Classified files at Pence’s home

Trump Ends Another Legal Challenge

Germany to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine

UK economic forecaster to downgrade medium-term growth outlook

Asian stocks make 7-month highs, Australian dollar gains

US sues Google over monolpy in Ad Technology

Turkey cancels Sweden-Finland meeting

Wall Street ends slightly down after mixed earnings

U.S. debt limit solution must come from Biden, McCarthy

Key US Lawmakers Endorse Sending Tanks to Ukraine

Everything Everywhere leads Oscar nods

US Yellen Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says she remains hopeful the US labour market will remain healthy.

U.S. Treasury activates maneuver to avoid breaching debt limit

Israeli PM visits Jordan to meet king

Former PM charged over Lebanon disaster

U.S. reiterates support for Finland, Sweden joining NATO