Unclear who assaulted university student in Leiden hazing incident; Case dropped
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has dropped an investigation into who assaulted a student during hazing at the Leiden student association Minerva in November 2023. According to the OM, it is impossible to separate perpetrator from witness in this case.
The assault occurred during a hazing event in which prospective members had to walk through a hedge while existing members attacked them. “Violence was used against the rules, kicking and hitting,” the OM said. “One prospective member suffered serious physical injuries as a result.”
The police and OM tried to identify who inflicted the serious injuries, but this proved impossible. The Minerva members in the hedge changed regularly, and not everyone used violence.
“It is not clear who was standing in the hedge when the victim walked through it, and who actually used violence,” the OM said. “Who is the suspect and who is a witness has, therefore, not become clear from the police investigation.”
Without the perpetrator coming forward, there are no further leads for the police to follow. The criminal investigation has, therefore, been halted. The OM informed the victim and the student association about the decision.
