Overview
- The Public Prosecution Service demanded 18 months’ imprisonment, with 12 months suspended, and €43,000 in damages for the destroyed police car.
- Courtroom footage shows the defendant lighting fireworks and placing one through the broken rear window, later taking a selfie with the burning vehicle and sharing messages about it.
- The defendant disputes causing the blaze, saying he acted in panic and that someone else later threw a torch into the car.
- Prosecutors called the day an “orgy of violence” and described images of the burning car as defining for the unrest following the September 20 demonstration.
- Including this case, 25 Malieveld suspects have been brought to court, as authorities note that expedited ‘snelrecht’ is rarely feasible in riot cases due to the time needed to build robust evidence files.