A secretive Telegram chat group, dubbed 'German Driving School', has been exposed, revealing a disturbing plot to drug and sexually assault women. Three men connected to the group have now been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their heinous crimes, including aggravated rape, dangerous bodily harm, and violating personal privacy.
The investigation began when German police informed Ivy*, a Chinese student, that her former boyfriend Tong Z was under investigation for sexual assault and covert photography. A devastating blow came when she was presented with nude photos taken of her while asleep – an incident she had no memory of. Tong Z, 26, was found to have sexually assaulted 11 women and secretly filmed them in various states of undress or while asleep between 2019 and 2024, across multiple locations including Germany, Poland, Denmark, and China.
Further court proceedings revealed that Tong Z was part of the 'German Driving School' group, which comprised eight members. Within this group, coded terms were used to discuss their crimes; 'fuel' referred to anaesthetic agents and sedatives, while 'car' was a codeword for their intended victims. The men, predominantly Chinese nationals, also filmed their assaults, shared the footage within the group, and celebrated each other's actions. Dapeng Z, a 44-year-old IT engineer and the group's administrator, received a 14-year prison sentence for aggravated rape and attempted murder, while Zhongyi J, a 28-year-old Chinese student, was sentenced to over 11 years for similar charges.
The case echoes the crimes of Zhenhao Zou, a Chinese student jailed for life in the UK and China in 2025 for drugging and raping ten women. Dr Juliane Kloess, a senior lecturer in forensic clinical psychology at the University of Glasgow, has highlighted that online rape communities are a global issue, not confined to any specific nationality. She noted that the internet's accessibility and perceived anonymity can allow individuals to deviate from normal behaviour, particularly concerning sexual abuse and actions outside societal norms.
The profound impact on victims and the wider community underscores the need for continued vigilance and robust action against such online networks. The convictions serve as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that exist within these groups, highlighting the urgent need for international cooperation to tackle this issue.