By: Isatou Sarr
Principal Magistrate Muhammed Krubally, has acquitted and discharged two Austrian nationals who were charged with disobedience of a lawful court order, bringing the case to an end after finding that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case.
The ruling, delivered on 10 June 2026, followed a no-case submission by the defence after the close of the prosecution’s case.
The accused, Manuel Di Stofleth Mitterer and Angelika Mitterer, were alleged to have disobeyed a court order issued on 21 July 2025 in relation to an investigation involving a disputed cryptocurrency account.
The order had directed the accused to provide access to a laptop, including passwords and relevant cryptocurrency account details, following an application by the prosecution.
However, during trial proceedings, prosecution witnesses from the Serious Crime Unit acknowledged under cross-examination that the accused had provided access to the laptop, shared passwords and handed over devices linked to cryptocurrency transactions.
Magistrate Krubally ruled that the evidence presented indicated compliance with the court order rather than disobedience.
He further noted that the prosecution failed to show how investigators were unable to access the cryptocurrency account after gaining access to the devices.
The court held that the prosecution’s case had collapsed and accordingly acquitted and discharged both accused persons.
The magistrate ordered the return of all seized property, including a laptop, cryptocurrency-related devices, passports and security bonds, and discharged all sureties.
He also noted that the accused persons’ passports had been held for nearly a year, describing the delay as an unjustified restriction on freedom of movement.
The court had earlier granted an application for the return of Angelika Mitterer’s passport on medical grounds to allow her travel for surgery in Germany, with no objection from the prosecution.
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