Police have launched a large-scale raid against Asian computer rings. In Germany most of the raids took place in the south and in North Rhine-Westphalia. The suspects are claimed to have smuggled substandard computer components into Europe and then sold them as top quality products. One of the leaders was a 36-year old Laotian from Stamberg. A few months ago he was discovered to be involved in dubious financial transactions which were reported to the authorities as suspected money laundering.
Investigators also believe that the criminal organization was also engaged in money laundering.
DM 5,400 penalty for intoxicated streetcar driver Frankfurt. The driver of a streetcar has been penalized DM 5,400 for driving with a blood alcohol level of 4.1 p.m. Earlier this year he was driving from Wiesbaden to Offenbach and collapsed, unconcious, in the Frankfurt train station. He has been relocated to a desk job with the German Railways Corporation until further notice. Social programs to be reorganized further Bonn. The federal government wants to further reorganize social programs, reported State Financial Secretary Ms. Karwazki at the opening of the 4-day final debate in the Bundestag on the 1997 budget.