German Courts Jail Telegram Rape Group Admin 14 Years, Sentence Second Man to 11+
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 6
German Courts Jail Telegram Rape Group Admin 14 Years, Sentence Second Man to 11+
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 6
Summary
Dapeng Z received 14 years and Zhongyi J more than 11 years after German courts found they drugged women with life-threatening doses and committed aggravated rape and attempted murder.
The convictions stem from an eight-member Telegram group called “German Driving School,” where members used code words for sedatives and targets, shared assault footage and encouraged one another’s crimes.
Tong Z, already sentenced in Berlin last year to five years and nine months, was identified as a key member who exchanged more than 2,000 messages with Dapeng Z and coached him on filming assaults.
Police uncovered the network after victims reported Dapeng Z in November 2024; searches then found the group on his devices and more than 2TB of victim footage at Tong Z’s residence.
The case has rattled Chinese communities in Europe because many victims were Chinese women, while experts say such online rape networks reflect a broader global pattern enabled by internet anonymity.
As dozens are jailed, how will police capture the hundred other predators from the 'German Driving School' network?
What turned elite academics into predators who built a secret society for drugging and raping women across Europe?
2026 Judgments in the "German Driving School" Telegram Rape Network: Legal Gaps, Global Context, and Platform Accountability
Overview
In July 2026, German courts delivered landmark judgments against members of the 'German Driving School' Telegram rape network, reflecting a strong stance against online sexual violence. The main defendant, Dapeng Zhang, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for aggravated rape, dangerous bodily harm, attempted murder, and possession of child sexual-abuse material, with preventive detention also ordered. These severe sentences highlight the courts' commitment to addressing the exploitation of digital platforms for serious crimes. The trials underscore the urgent need to tackle systemic issues that allow such heinous acts to occur online, marking a significant step in combating digital sexual abuse.