Clemens in court for traffic offense?

Saxony's Minister of Culture Conrad Clemens (CDU) may have to appear in court as a speeding offender as early as January. The public prosecutor's office in Görlitz wants the legal consequences of his traffic offense to be clarified in September 2023. It has applied for a main hearing to be held, the Weißwasser district court announced. An expert opinion "on the objective facts of the case and the local circumstances at the scene" will be obtained for this purpose. The facts of the case must be fully clarified beforehand. First reported by "Radio Lausitz".

Clemens was flashed at 81 km/h in a 30 km/h zone

Clemens had received a two-month driving ban and fine in 2023 during his previous position as State Secretary and Plenipotentiary of the Free State of Saxony to the Federal Government. He had been flashed at 81 kilometers per hour in a 30-kilometer zone in Krauschwitz in eastern Saxony - at a retirement home. Clemens admitted that he had been speeding and described it as a mistake.

The case eventually turned into criminal proceedings. The court accused Clemens of illegal motor vehicle racing. Clemens' lawyer rejected this. The court then suggested dropping the case if Clemens paid 10,000 euros, took part in a traffic rehabilitation seminar and gave traffic lessons to schoolchildren. The public prosecutor's office did not accept this offer.

In May, the Saxon state parliament lifted Clemens' immunity. This paved the way for criminal proceedings.