A raid in Sittard in 2017 saw a gunfight between police and men in a hemp nursery. The trial was scheduled for Tuesday in Roermond, but coronagraphs threw a spanner in the works.

The Limburg court hoped to hear the case against two Albanian suspects after years. One of them, Genzi B. (50), suspected of attempted manslaughter, had planned to travel from Albania to the court in Roermond for that purpose, but ran into trouble because of coronagraphs.

Entry ban

After the court decided last year that B. could await his case at large, he was sent out of the country as an "undesirable alien. He was also given an entry ban. To still be able to attend his case in the court in Roermond - after all, as a suspect you are entitled to that - his counsel Ivo van de Bergh applied to the IND for a temporary exemption. "That was granted, for three days."

Orange-colored

However, the corona measures require travelers from orange-colored Albania to go into home quarantine for 10 days if they come to the Netherlands. "And my client cannot do that, because he is not allowed to stay here that long," said lawyer, who successfully asked the court to stay the case for that reason.
The lawyer calls the situation "annoying. "The facts date back to 2017, the case is old. Client has spent quite a bit of time on remand and also wants to know where he stands. On the other hand, he does not want to simply waive his right to be present. It's kind of about something."

When asked, the Limburg court let it be known that it is the first time that a trial has not proceeded because of "this explicit reason. Counsel also did not experience it before and speaks of a "special situation."

When the case will be heard is not known.