Police in the German city of Mannheim have arrested another former executive of the Imhausen chemical company, who will face charges of complicity in helping Libya build a factory to produce poison gas.
Hans-Joachim Renner was picked up Tuesday on orders from the same Mannheim court where three other former Imhausen executives are currently on trial.
Chief Prosecutor Peter Wechsung said he ordered Renner’s arrest because there was a chance he might try to escape or destroy evidence that could lead to his conviction.
According to the prosecutor, Renner knew from the start that “Pharma 150,” the project he worked on from 1984 through 1988, was helping Libya build a plant to produce chemical weapons, in violation of Germany’s export regulations.
Three other Imhausen executives, Eugen Lang, Friedrich Schoffel and Rudiger Berndt, went on trial last month. Lang admitted in court last Friday that he knew the true purpose of his work.
Jurgen Hippenstiel-Imhausen, founder and former manager of the company, is serving a five-year prison term for his part in the poison-gas project.
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