German police officer compensates victim following assault in Mallorca

A police officer from Germany has agreed to provide 40,000 ($46,500) in compensation to a taxi driver on Mallorca after an assault last year, preventing the need for a potential prison sentence, local sources reported on Friday. The settlement was arranged through legal representatives for both parties, according to the Mallorca Zeitung, a German-language newspaper on the island. The officer, originally from Essen in western Germany, continues to serve in the police force.

In August 2024, the German officer assaulted a 71-year-old taxi driver after a trip from the Ballermann party district, a well-known nightlife area frequented by German tourists along Playa de Palma, to a remote hotel in the islands interior. The victim stated that three additional German police officers were involved in the incident. The confrontation began over a missing mobile phone, which the young touristsunder 30 according to Spanish authoritiesinitially claimed had been stolen by the driver. The phone was subsequently discovered in their own belongings.

The attack caused the driver multiple broken ribs and a fractured arm. The main suspect was arrested that night by the Guardia Civil, with two more arrests following the next day. A judge released all three shortly thereafter, though prosecutors later pressed charges. Only the primary suspect faced the risk of up to three years in prison.

The settlement, endorsed by legal representatives and the public prosecutor, still requires judicial approval, which is generally viewed as a routine step. The officer admitted to coercion and causing bodily harm, agreeing to cover both the compensation and associated legal fees. It is currently uncertain whether he or the other officers involved will remain on active duty, as they may face disciplinary review in Germany. Police in Essen have stated they are waiting for official documents from Spanish authorities.

Author: Grace Ellison