The trial of 49 alleged members of a criminal gang linked to the Hells Angels motorcycle club began on Monday at a packed session of Spain's High Court, almost a decade after police clamped down on the group's activities on the resort island of Mallorca.
The defendants face a slew of criminal charges that include extortion, money laundering, drug trafficking, pandering and unlawful possession of firearms.
The prosecution has requested a prison sentence of up to 13 years and a 4.2 million euro ($4.56 million) fine for German national Frank Hanebuth, who rose through the Hells Angels ranks in the German city of Hanover before allegedly leading the crime ring in Mallorca.
