Ajax fans found not guilty of occupying club premises

ajaxThe first of 126 Ajax football fans arrested for occupying a club building in October have been cleared of all charges by magistrates in Amsterdam.

All those arrested were held in jail for several days after the occupation on suspicion of trespassing, breach of the peace and public disorder. Lawyers said at the time they should have been released after six hours.

Magistrates ruled on Thursday that it was not clear the Toekomst club house was closed that day and that the men who appeared in court were not involved in tearing down the fence. They also refused to fine the men €770 for disturbing the peace.

The public prosecution department said it is considering an appeal. The fact that the men were kept in jail for several days is not illegal, a spokesman said. ‘Officials kept to the letter of the law, or should I say, they kept within the margins allowed by the law,’ the spokesman is quoted as saying.

Several dozen other men, including those who tore down the fence to access the club house, still have to appear in court.

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