Two of Thierry Baudet’s security guards are not prosecuted for assaulting an opponent of Forum for Democracy. According to the Public Prosecution Service, their behavior was punishable in Den Bosch last year, but they do not have to take them to court. One of the reasons is that since the incident, they have been getting almost no security orders.
The victim is filmmaker Jasper van den Elshout. During a flyer campaign by Thierry Baudet, he walked around in the center of Den Bosch with a box on which “old paper please here” was written. According to him, security officers threatened to leave. And when he refused, he was knocked to the ground and held for some time.
Civilian detention
Van den Elshout reported open violence and unlawful deprivation of liberty. In the investigation that followed, security officers said they thought the man wanted to approach Baudet. That is why they would have arrested him for threatening a politician. Citizens may arrest someone, provided they use limited force and immediately call the police.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, the security guards forced Van Elshout to his knees and his arms were turned on his back. They also called the police. Later they let the man go anyway, because it took a long time for the officers to arrive.
The OM concludes that the civilian arrest was unlawful. “Nowhere has it emerged that the declarant was threatening or that he was threatening Baudet.” Still, according to the public prosecutor, this is not punishable because the security guards thought they were acting correctly because of a threat.
Compensation
According to the Public Prosecution Service, the security guards were punishable for the pain and injuries inflicted on the victim. Yet they are not prosecuted for this either because they are already suffering a lot from the incident. “They have received no or fewer orders and run the risk of losing their permit,” said the public prosecutor.
Another factor is that Van den Elshout has said that he especially wants the recognition that he was a victim in the incident and not a suspect. And prosecution is not necessary for compensation, says the OM, because the filmmaker has already started a civil case against the security guards.
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