Dutch National sentenced in Moscow for assaulting police officer
A court in Moscow has handed Dutch national Harry Johannes van Wurden a three-year suspended sentence for assaulting a police officer while intoxicated, according to Russian state news agency TASS. The incident occurred in early October near the Italian Embassy in central Moscow.
Van Wurden, 61, was accused of attacking a police captain after being reprimanded for kicking over a traffic sign. According to court documents, the Dutchman, under the influence of alcohol, struck the officer twice, causing injuries that included a broken finger and a bruised lip.
The incident took place after Van Wurden, who resides in Russia with his wife and young daughter, had dinner with them at a nearby restaurant. Russian authorities reported that the conflict escalated when Van Wurden knocked over a plastic parking sign and was confronted by an officer guarding the embassy.
"While intoxicated, [Van Wurden] struck the officer on duty twice, causing physical injuries including a closed fracture of the right-hand finger and soft tissue bruising of the lower lip," court documents revealed.
Initially, Van Wurden was detained and held in a pre-trial detention center before being placed under house arrest. The Tagansky District Court in Moscow granted this measure, citing his permanent residence in Russia, employment as the director of a company, and a clean prior criminal record.
The court proceedings highlighted Van Wurden’s ties to Russia, including his Russian wife and daughter, as well as his positive character references from business partners. These factors contributed to his eventual house arrest instead of continued detention. The prosecutor initially sought a stricter penalty, contesting the house arrest.
Van Wurden declined consular assistance from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, limiting the ministry’s involvement in the case. The Dutch government confirmed it had been notified of the arrest but stated it had little influence over the proceedings.
Following the investigation, the case was transferred to the Khamovniki District Court for trial. On December 8, the court ruled that Van Wurden’s actions constituted a violation of Article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code, which pertains to the use of violence against public officials. The offense carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Van Wurden was ultimately given a suspended sentence, allowing him to remain free under strict conditions. TASS reported that the defendant did not admit guilt during the trial.
