Krefeld: 29-year-old has to serve 118 days in prison for unpaid fine

Krefeld: 29-year-old has to serve 118 days in prison for unpaid fine

A 29-year-old from Paderborn is now standing at the gates of the prison, and for a very specific reason: He simply did not pay a fine of around 2,400 euros that was imposed on him for several property crimes! The dramatic turnaround occurred on November 14th when the federal police checked him at the main train station. The officers came across an arrest warrant from the Krefeld public prosecutor's office - and the situation quickly escalated.

The man was convicted of theft in June 2022, but instead of paying the fine, he apparently chose to ignore the money. Now he has to face the consequences: He was arrested and taken directly to a correctional facility to serve a substitute prison sentence of 118 days. This is the legal regulation that applies if someone fails to pay a fine. The length of the prison sentence is calculated based on the daily rates, which depend on the convicted person's income.

The consequences of non-payment

The rule behind this drastic measure is clear: anyone who doesn't pay has to go to prison. Compensatory imprisonment is a type of punishment that ensures that those convicted accept responsibility for their actions. In this case, the 29-year-old will now spend the next 118 days behind bars as he faces the consequences of his decisions. A strong reminder that the law makes no exceptions - and that you should always keep the consequences of your actions in mind.