Four women were pinched in their breasts or buttocks in broad daylight on 6 May in Maarheeze. An 80-year-old woman was even seriously assaulted, according to the public prosecutor. He therefore demanded nine months in prison against a 37-year-old resident of the asylum seekers’ center in neighboring Budel. The Ghanaian denies everything or says he can’t remember anything.
The suspect, who graduated as a lawyer, had only been in our country for a month when he allegedly assaulted the four women in various places in Maarheeze. “If I’ve touched them, it was by accident. I was really joking that day,” he tried to defend himself.
Already written about it
The man is about to be deported to Belgium, because he is not eligible for a residence permit in the Netherlands. In the past, he already came into contact with the law after transgressive behavior in another asylum seekers center.
The man, ruddy-bearded, dressed in a shabby T-shirt and moving a little restlessly in his chair, denied having touched the victims with his fingers. He argued that he was “very drunk” that day because he had drunk a lot of beer in the morning.
He could no longer remember what happened according to witnesses and victims. But he did steal a bottle of watermelon cocktail from the local Lidl. It is also strange that an alcohol test later that day showed that the man was not that drunk at all.
Women willfully assaulted
According to the judiciary, several women were deliberately assaulted that day and were shocked by this. “No woman in his neighborhood seemed safe. Even an 80-year-old woman has been severely assaulted,” the officer explained. The allegations are supported by witness statements and CCTV footage.
One of the victims said during the hearing that she was ‘really pinched in the chest’ by the suspect and that that was ‘no joke’ for her. She is still regularly reminded of what happened to her and does not feel safe anymore. The woman hopes that she can close this with this lawsuit.
Menno Ufkes, the lawyer for the Ghanaian, thought that there was too little evidence for all the assaults. He asked for partial acquittal. Counsel also hopes that the court will take his client’s mental state into account: like the judge, he is not really aware of him. Ufkes further questioned the amount of damages that would have to be paid.
Share residents regularly in error
People, companies and politics in the municipality of Cranendonck, which includes Budel and Maarheeze, have been complaining about the behavior of some asylum seekers for some time. Extra efforts by the police did not help enough, after which the city council decided not to renew the contract with the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers for the accommodation of asylum seekers.
State Secretary Eric van den Burg even paid a visit and promised far-reaching measures to restore the sense of security in the municipality. It is worth a lot to the minister, because he would like the city council to reconsider its decision.
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