A Berlin police officer has been arrested after he stopped a driver during a fake identity check and allegedly robbed him of tens of thousands of euros, German police announced on Tuesday.
The 48-year-old policeman was arrested for robbery and suspended with immediate effect. During searches on Monday, evidence was seized in his flat and office.
Police say the officer had an accomplice. The pair allegedly pulled over a motorist on the Berlin city highway near Messedamm not long before midnight on 19 July.
The officer, who was off duty at the time, was allegedly driving a passenger car from his department. According to the investigation, he was wearing his uniform and carrying his service weapon. Thus, the 62-year-old driver was under the impression that it was an ordinary police check.
During the check, the officer and his accomplice allegedly handcuffed the driver and took him to the police car. They then stole more than €57,000 in cash and two mobile phones from his vehicle.
The victim was reportedly given a police report stating that the phones had been seized. However, the report did not mention the money.
It is still unclear why the driver had so much cash on him.
