BERLIN, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- A German court on Thursday opened a mass trial in 50 cases involving around 30 security guards and staff members of a refugee home in the town Burbach, who are accused of abusing refugees from 2013 until 2014.
Refugees in Burbach were allegedly beaten, tormented and imprisoned in a room that was called the "problem room" by the accused staff of the refugee home. Besides security guards, social workers as well as the head of the refugee home were involved in the abusive incidents.
In September 2014, a leaked video from the refugee home in question, showing a young man beaten by guards sparked a discussion about the general conditions in refugee homes in Germany.
In one of the largest legal cases in post-war Germany, the defendants between the ages of 24 and 63 will have to answer to charges of grievous bodily harm, coercion and deprivation of liberty.
After several years of investigation, the court hearings are taking place in an event hall, due to the large crowd of people that is expected to attend.
