ROTTERDAM - The Rotterdam District Court has found a 49-year-old man of Curaçaoan descent guilty of public violence against police officers but decided not to impose any sentence.

The court cited the unusually long duration of the case, procedural errors in the police file, and a racist remark made by one of the officers as sufficient reasons to refrain from punishment.

The incident occurred on December 5, 2020, in Dordrecht, where the man and his son became involved in a fight with three police officers. Video footage showed that both sides exchanged blows, kicks, and pushes. The court ruled that the father and son were guilty of public violence but found no evidence that the officers’ injuries were directly caused by their actions.

No Sentence, but Guilt Acknowledged

Although the court described the violence against the police as serious, the judges determined that too many procedural and ethical errors had occurred during the handling of the case. They pointed to “the excessive duration of the proceedings,” “irregularities in the official report,” and “a racist insult by a police officer.”

The case had dragged on for nearly five years and was previously sent back by The Hague Court of Appeal. Since then, the defendant has not committed any new offenses. “The events have left deep marks on both the police officers and the defendant’s family,” the court noted.

Given these circumstances, the judges applied Article 9a of the Dutch Penal Code, which allows a person to be found guilty without the imposition of a sentence or measure. 

Compensation to Officers 

However, the man and his son were ordered to pay €375 each in damages to three involved officers for emotional distress. The court stated that the seriousness of the offense is sufficiently reflected in the guilty verdict itself.