Two men (24 and 27) from Rotterdam have been acquitted of arson at a business premises and a home in Vries. The court in Assen finds that there is not enough evidence that they are the perpetrators.
It would be a deliberate attack, arson in revenge against an entrepreneur who sold GPS trackers from the building in Vries. With the help of these trackers, the police are said to have intercepted a large drug seizure.
It is clear to the court that there was deliberate arson. In her opinion, there is no convincing evidence that the people of Rotterdam are responsible for the fire on December 10, 2022, which was discovered around half past six in the morning because a firefighter happened to pass by. He dragged another bag of jerry cans away from a large sliding door.
Shortly afterwards the fire brigade arrived on site. They smelled a strong odor of gasoline. There was a trail of gasoline near the building. In combination with the found jerry cans, it was immediately clear that it was arson. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) stated two weeks ago that the Rotterdam residents had started the fire on instructions and that the intention was for the entire building to burn out. The youngest suspect was sentenced to 40 months in prison and the 27-year-old co-suspect was sentenced to 38 months in prison.
Images bad
Surveillance camera images have been found, showing that two men were out in Vries on the night in question. According to the Public Prosecution Service, it cannot be determined that the suspects are the persons because the images are too poor. Telephone data also shows that the oldest suspect drove back and forth from Rotterdam to Vries that night and morning. The court believes that this raises questions, but that it is not proof of his involvement in the arson.
DNA from the youngest suspect was found on a jerry can found at the building in Vries. The court says: “That certainly raises questions. But the court cannot determine at what time or how his DNA ended up on the jerry can. A jerry can is a movable object and the suspect has given an alternative explanation.” The man said he may have used the gas can when he once ran out of gas.