German prosecutors say an investigation into an alleged Telegram predator network has uncovered years of chat messages in which mainly Chinese men in Germany allegedly exchanged rape videos, shared advice on drugging women and celebrated sexual assaults, leading to multiple convictions and an ongoing trial.
Authorities said the investigation has so far resulted in the conviction of three alleged members of what prosecutors described as the group’s inner circle, while a fourth suspect is currently standing trial in Berlin. Investigators are also examining years of activity across roughly two dozen Telegram groups believed to have targeted mostly Chinese women living in Germany.
Frankfurt Chief Prosecutor Dominik Mies said the suspects displayed exceptional cruelty in planning and carrying out the alleged offences.
“The perpetrators were characterized by a particular ruthlessness, an objectification of the victims, and the perfidious planning of their crimes.”
According to court documents, members of the groups allegedly used coded language to disguise discussions about sexual violence, referring to women as “cars,” sedatives as “fuel”and rape as “driving.” Prosecutors said the chats included photographs and videos of unconscious victims, with members also referring to victims as “dead pigs.”
German authorities have not disclosed the full scale of the investigation, including the total number of suspects or victims, while privacy laws have limited what prosecutors can reveal publicly. Court proceedings in the ongoing Berlin trial have also been partially closed to the public.
The investigation has nevertheless drawn strong support from Germany’s Chinese community, with many women attending court hearings to stand in solidarity with victims.
Fu Xiao, who travelled hundreds of kilometres to attend proceedings in Berlin, condemned the attitudes displayed within the alleged online groups. “What makes one really angry is to see that such groups hate women, they have no respect. Women aren’t seen as people.”
The case has also attracted widespread attention in China, although discussions on some Chinese-language social media platforms have reportedly faced censorship. Posts using certain keywords have been removed, while broader conversations have continued using alternative descriptions.
German prosecutors say the case bears similarities to other investigations into drug-facilitated sexual assaults emerging across Europe and North America. Authorities in the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom have all launched related investigations involving suspects accused of drugging women, recording assaults and distributing videos through online chat groups.
Last week, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, Europol, announced “Project Medusa,” an international operation targeting online communities promoting drug-facilitated sexual violence. The operation, led by German and British authorities, has already resulted in 57 arrests.
The investigation has also renewed scrutiny of Telegram over its handling of criminal content. Prosecutors said several of the alleged chat groups had operated for years despite containing material that violated the platform’s terms of service.
In a statement, Telegram said sexual violence is prohibited on the platform and that such material is routinely removed. “Sexual violence is explicitly forbidden by Telegram’s terms of service and such content is routinely removed.”
The company said it complies with all legal obligations under the European Union’s Digital Services Act but did not answer questions about the specific German investigation or whether it had alerted authorities to the alleged activity.
German investigators said they became aware of the alleged network in 2024 after one suspect changed his methods from targeting acquaintances to allegedly attacking strangers he met online.
The man, identified by German courts as Dapeng Z. and reported by German and Chinese media as the group’s alleged ringleader, was arrested in cooperation with Chinese authorities and sentenced in February to 14 years in prison after being convicted of aggravated rape, attempted murder and other offences. He has appealed the conviction.
Meanwhile, another defendant, Zhiting S., is expected to receive a verdict after prosecutors accused him of using his previous medical training to advise Telegram group members on drugs that could be used to sedate women before sexually assaulting them.
Prosecutors also allege he sexually abused a woman in China and distributed images of the assaults online. His lawyer has acknowledged his client participated in one of the chat groups but denied he played a significant role, adding that several charges against him have already been dropped.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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