Germany’s Justice Ministry is seeking tougher penalties for the use of so-called knockout drops, according to a new bill published on Monday.
Knockout drops is a drug in liquid form added to a drink to cause Unconsciousness.
Anyone who uses the chemicals to commit rape or robbery will face a minimum of five years’ imprisonment in future, according to the draft legislation.
Under the proposals, knockout drops will be classified as weapons or dangerous implements.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig explained that rape involving the use of knockout drops is particularly malicious.
“Women are deliberately drugged with substances such as knockout drops in order to sexually assault them,” she said.
She added that Germany had to send a clear signal to perpetrators that these crimes will be consistently prosecuted and severely punished.”
Earlier last year, Germany’s Federal Court of Justice ruled that knockout drops cannot be considered “dangerous implements” within the meaning of the existing criminal code.
According to the ministry, this means that under current law, the minimum sentence is three years.
NAN
