Berlin: A Berlin doctor has been arrested on suspicion of murdering four elderly patients and attempting to cover up his actions by setting fires at their homes, authorities said Wednesday.
The 39-year-old doctor, who was part of a nursing service's palliative care team, was ordered to remain in custody on Tuesday pending a possible indictment, police and prosecutors said in a statement. His name wasn't released in line with Germany privacy rules.
He is accused of killing four patients who were in the nursing service's care in June and July, though investigators don't yet know how, and then attempting -- with mixed success -- to set fires in their apartments, news agency AP reported.
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In the first case on June 11, firefighters who arrived at the scene were able to revive the victim, an 87-year-old woman, but she died at a hospital shortly afterward. On July 8, investigators say, the suspect killed a 76-year-old woman.
According to AP, Further alleged killings of women, who were 72 and 94, followed on July 15 and 24.
Authorities have not disclosed details regarding the motive for the alleged crimes or the specific reasons for the doctor's arrest. He faces charges of manslaughter, one count of arson, and three counts of attempted arson.
team had earlier reported that taking action against a German doctor who illegally exempted 4,000 people from wearing masks during the Coronavirus pandemic, the latter was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison, three years of work ban, and a fine of 28,000 euros. Public broadcaster SWR reported that a regional court in the southwestern town of Weinheim convicted the doctor late Monday for issuing certificates to people from across Germany, most of whom she had never met or examined.
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