Lawyer fined for calling police officer an idiot

A lawyer who called a detective sukkel (idiot) during an interview has been fined €75 for ‘immaterial damages’ by a court in Breda, the NRC reports.

The lawyer, named as Erik Thomas, will not face further charges because the case has taken so long to come to court, the NRC said.

The detective was being interviewed by four lawyers, including Thomas, in his role as witness in a major drugs case. The interview, which took place in 2009, proceeded badly and at one point, Thomas was heard to sigh and call the police officer an idiot.

The court ruled the comment was an insult and inappropriate. ‘Lawyers are expected to show professionalism,’ the court said in its ruling.

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