MAASTRICHT - A disgrace.Disgusting. Absolutely inappropriate. Extremely shocking. Non-magisterial. The lawyers of the seven suspects in the Geleen assault case found almost no words yesterday in the court in Maastricht to adequately express their outrage at statements made by the officer of correctitie. In her indictment the day before yesterday, officer Anneke Rogier stated that "people who do this (referring to the suspects, who in June 2007 allegedly severely assaulted two men in the Market Square in Geleen, ed.) do not understand the rule of law. Loss of strength, bodily strength and loss of right to the rule of law would be the most appropriate punishment." What did she mean by this, all the lawyers wondered in their pleas. "Corporal punishment? The death penalty? I should hope that this officer has no political aspirations," said counsel Peter Hermsen of defendant Rick D., against whom four years were demanded for co-perpetration of attempted manslaughter. "It seems as if the officer wishes these people a serious illness or even death," said Serge Weening, attorney for Paul S. (demand of seven years).
"She wants to outlaw these people. This kind of statement is extremely shocking," thought lawyer Ivo van de Bergh of Jeremy M. (demand four years, one of which was suspended). Councilwoman Françoise Landerloo of Anthony P. (demand four years, one of which was suspended) said the statements were "far from it." Counsel Peer Szymkowiak of Stephan P. (demand eight years) fell over a subsequent passage in the indictment, in which the officer said, "Such a sentence is not allowed by law here. Reduction to the culture of people who do this is out of the question." His client, Szymkowiak said, took this as "a reference to the Moluccan community, since all but one of the defendants - belong to that community. He is very hurt." Anticipating her rebuttal today, Officer Rogier let it be known in writing yesterday in advance that "this prosecutor is very satisfied with the punishments provided by the law. The example belongs to a type of society to which this officer would never want to belong." By the way, all lawyers asked for acquittal for their clients due to lack of evidence.