Dutch news in brief – 15 June 2004

Senate backs identification obligation

The majority in the Dutch Senate indicated on Tuesday that it will back legislation obligating all Dutch residents above the age of 14 to be able to produce identification in public places if requested to by police. The legislation was passed by the Lower House of Parliament in December 2003 and will become law if the Senate officially votes in favour of the proposal next week. The obligation to carry ID will come into force from 1 January 2005. Anyone in breach of the law risks a fine of a maximum of EUR 2,200. Currently only those people aged 18 or over must carry identification in cars, public transport and the workplace.

Hell Angels murder suspects remanded

The Amsterdam Court has remanded two Hells Angels murder suspects in custody, rejecting a request from the defence for their release from temporary custody. The Sittard men — identified as 42-year-old Jack S. and the 37-year-old Marco H. — are accused of shooting dead three gang members in February. The bodies of the victims were found in a stream in the Limburg town of Echt. The suspects, who were arrested in March, have denied the murder allegations, but the court considers the evidence strong enough to warrant their continued detention. The three victims were allegedly killed during a conflict over a cocaine transaction, and the Amsterdam-Osdorp Court adjourned the case for an indefinite time period on Tuesday. Investigations continue.

21 injured in bus, truck collision

Twenty-one people were injured on Tuesday in a collision involving a bus and a truck in the Zeeland city of Vlaardingen. Nine of the injured victims were taken to hospital for observation, including the 29-year-old female bus driver and the 42-year-old trick driver. Twelve others were treated at the scene of the accident for minor injuries. The accident occurred on the Meester L.A. Kesperweg. The bus was travelling in the bus lane at the time of the accident.

Norwegians abandon Krekar investigation

Norwegian authorities have abandoned the investigation into alleged terrorist activities of Mullah Krekar, who was initially arrested in the Netherlands and later deported to the Scandinavian nation. Washington had accused the Iraqi Kurd of holding links to al-Qaeda, but Norwegian authorities could not gather sufficient evidence to charge Krekar with terrorism and manslaughter. Krekar was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam September 2002, but the Dutch government deported him in January 2003 to Norway, where he holds refugee status. Krekar later won EUR 45,000 in damages from the Dutch State on grounds of false imprisonment.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Dutch news