Dutch man, cleared of rape, freed from Spanish prison after 12 years

Dutch man Romano van der Dussen was released from the prison on Mallocra, Spain on Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed. He was imprisoned there for twelve years after being convicted of rape and attempted rape, before a Spanish court acquitted him on Wednesday. According to the Ministry, Van der Dussen is now staying in temporary accommodation in Mallorca, NU reports. When an RTL correspondent asked him how he was doing, he burst into tears. "I do not know what to feel. It's very surreal to be outside again", he said. Van der Dussen always maintained that he was innocent. He was convicted based on witness statements. More than a decade later investigation in Britain found that the DNA of the perpetrator in the rape he was convicted for matched a Briton currently imprisoned in England for murder. RTL also spoke to Van der Dussen about his father Rob, who always believed that his son was innocent and launched a fundraiser to pay his legal fees so he can prove it. The two have not spoken to each other yet, but Romano said that it was nice to hear that his father was on his side. Father Rob told NU that he has no idea what he will say when he speaks to his son. "I think I just want to congratulate him. And listen to his voice. I would also love to hug him."