Hague cop acquitted of embezzling fines

A 41-year-old former police officer was acquitted by the court in The Hague on Wednesday. He faced embezzlement charges as it was suspected that he collected three fines and kept the money for himself, AD reports.

The Hague court determined that there is not enough legal and convincing evidence to prove that the former officer fined three foreign drivers in 2013 and kept the money for himself. While the money could not be traced in The Hague police's financial administration, this  does not prove that the officer put the money in his own pocket. It also quite often happens that the finance department has amounts that are not accounted for.

The Public Prosecutor demanded 200 hours of community service against the suspect.

The officer himself denied the allegations. "I've been working at the police for 21 years", he said during his trial. "I would not put my career at stake for such amounts." He was dismissed, but is fighting that in court.