Arbeit macht frei: - Fredrick Töben

MR MARGO: Dr Toben, you say that when you saw the word
‘indulgence’ in media publicity about Mr Pratt your mind went to the
selling of indulgences by the Catholic Church; you recall that evidence?
Dr Töben: Indeed.
MR MARGO: And you referred also to the fact that you had seen
pictures of a lot of prominent people visiting Mr Pratt. You described it as
a who’s who of prominent people, or words to that effect; you recall that
evidence?
Dr Töben: Yes.
MR MARGO: And was it your impression, or understanding when you
thought about the Catholic Church, and saw those people, that Mr Pratt
might have received an indulgence that was purchased in some way
through influence or money?
Dr Töben: Not at all.
MR MARGO: Why did you think of the selling of indulgences in
connection with the publicity about Mr Pratt?
Dr Töben: I am a student of history. I did not – I have not in the last – as
Mr Jones would know – in ‘96, from ‘96 onwards, since we’ve been
locked in battle, I have not come across this term ‘indulgence,’ and the
first thing that came to mind was when this – there’s this historical event
occurred many centuries ago, I think, fourteenth, fifteenth century or so,
and this is where the term came in. And so I certainly wondered, what’s
going on here, and then, of course, I thought of Marcus Einfeld, and I
realised, no, the justice system is functioning. Therefore, the reason in this
case, the indulgence referred to a kind of mercy, that the judge was
showing towards Mr Pratt, who was dying. And as someone who cannot
justify himself in court, surely he should not be continued to be
prosecuted. The case goes. It drops.
MR MARGO: And you read in the press, did you not, that what
happened in Mr Pratt’s case was that the prosecution withdrew the
charges?
Dr Töben: I actually didn’t see the item. This morning I read the
Advertiser, where it stated that this was a – I think it was a dropping of the
prosecution, yes …
MR MARGO: And you read also that?
Dr Töben: which makes sense.
MR MARGO: I’m sorry?
Dr Töben: Which makes sense.
MR MARGO: And you read also, Dr Toben …?
Dr Töben: Sorry.
MR MARGO: And you read also that Mr Pratt’s lawyers requested that,
instead, that the charges be dismissed, not withdrawn?
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