- Legal Basis
- § 255 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment of not less than five years; in less serious cases imprisonment from one to ten years
- Summary
- Robbery committed by means of extortion with violence or threat to life and limb
Aggravated Extortion (Section 255 StGB)
Aggravated extortion (räuberische Extortion) is a qualified form of extortion and is punished in the same manner as robbery. It is characterised by the use of violence or qualified threats to compel the victim to take an action that damages their assets. In practice, the distinction from robbery is often problematic and regularly provides starting points for the defence — an important nuance that expats facing such charges in Germany should understand.
Legal Basis
Section 255 of the German Criminal Code (StGB) provides:
“Where extortion is committed by violence against a person or by using threats of present danger to life or limb, the offender shall be punished as a robber.”
The sentencing ranges of Section 249 StGB (robbery) therefore apply: imprisonment of not less than one year; in less serious cases, imprisonment from six months to five years. In cases of aggravated robbery-like extortion (Section 250 StGB by analogy), the minimum sentence rises to three or five years’ imprisonment.
Elements of the Offence
Extortion (Section 253 StGB): The basic requirement is that a person coerces another by violence or threat of a serious detriment into an act, toleration, or omission, thereby causing damage to the assets of the coerced person or another, with the intention of unlawfully enriching themselves or a third party.
Violence against a person: Physical force directed against a person’s body that exerts a coercive effect. Examples: holding, hitting, restraining. Violence against objects alone does not satisfy Section 255 StGB.
Threat of present danger to life or limb: The threat must relate to an immediately impending physical injury or killing. Unlike in simple extortion (Section 253 StGB), a threat of some other serious detriment is not sufficient.
Financial disadvantage: The coerced action must have resulted in financial damage. This distinguishes aggravated extortion from robbery: in robbery, the offender takes the object themselves; in aggravated extortion, they compel the victim to hand it over or make another financially detrimental disposition.
Intent to enrich and unlawfulness: The offender must intend to unlawfully enrich themselves or a third party. The sought enrichment must be unlawful — a person who enforces an actually existing claim through coercive means is not guilty of aggravated extortion (though they may be guilty of coercion).
Typical Methods of Commission
Classic cases of aggravated extortion include so-called “protection money” schemes where business owners are forced into regular payments under threat of violence, threats of violence to compel the surrender of valuables or money, forcing the disclosure of PINs or access codes through the use of violence, hold-ups at shops where cashiers are compelled to hand over money, and extortion in connection with drug dealings.
Sentencing Range
Aggravated extortion is punished like robbery: imprisonment of not less than one year. In less serious cases, the sentence ranges from six months to five years’ imprisonment. Where particularly aggravating circumstances exist (Section 250 StGB: use of a weapon, involvement of a gang, risk of serious bodily harm), the minimum sentence rises to three or five years. A suspended sentence is only possible in exceptional circumstances given the minimum of one year.
Typical Defence Strategies
The distinction between robbery and aggravated extortion can be relevant to the defence, particularly where it is disputed whether a taking or a coerced handover occurred. Furthermore, it is examined whether the coercion actually reached the level of a threat of present danger to life or limb — if not, only simple extortion may apply. A key defence approach concerns the unlawfulness of the intended enrichment: if an actual claim existed, criminal liability under Sections 253 and 255 StGB is excluded. In sentencing, the specific manner of commission, any provocation by the victim, and the personal circumstances of the accused may all be considered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was ist eine räuberische Extortion?
Die räuberische Extortion (§ 255 StGB) ist eine Extortion unter Einsatz von Robberymitteln, also Gewalt oder Drohung mit gegenwärtiger Gefahr für Leib oder Leben. Sie wird wie ein Robbery bestraft und ist ein Verbrechen.
Wie grenzt sie sich vom Robbery ab?
Die Rechtsprechung grenzt nach dem äußeren Erscheinungsbild ab (Nehmen beim Robbery, Geben bei der Extortion). Praktisch ist die Abgrenzung oft fließend und damit angreifbar.
Droht Pre-Trial Detention?
Als Verbrechen häufig ja. Eine schnelle Verteidigung mit Akteneinsicht und Haftprüfung ist entscheidend.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Aggravated Extortion? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Aggravated Extortion requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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