Prosecutors put "fuck de koning" case on hold

The Prosecutor’s Office has placed the case on hold.against Abulkasim Al-Jaberi, the man who chanted 'fuck de koning' at a Zwarte Piet-demonstration last year.

The state attorneys have said that they need more time to carry out investigations, due to the barrage of pleas and defense filed by Al-Jaberi’s lawyer. Willem Jebbink, the lawyer, had indicated that he wanted to hear several witnesses at trial. He told AT5 that the Prosecutor’s Office had not foreseen that the list would be very long and thus needs more time to prepare.

Al-Jaberi was scheduled to appear in court on May 27, following his arrest last November when he chanted “fuck the koning” at a rally against blackface tradition Zwarte Piet. The Prosecutor’s Office announced this week that he would be indicted for lese majesty, which prompted protests. Someone for instance wrote 'fuck de koning' on the walls of the Palace at De Dam last night. Attorney Jebbink insists that his client did not commit a criminal offense. The case has prompted questions in the Second Chamber of Parliament. It is not clear what date the Prosecutor's Office has in mind to start the trial against Al-Jaberi.