Prosecutors appeal against decision to free Ukrainians to go and fight

Statue of justice.
Photo: Depositphotos.com
Statue of justice.
Photo: Depositphotos.com

The public prosecution department is appealing against a lower court decision to free two Ukrainian nationals who were on remand for people smuggling so they can return home to fight against the Russian forces, the NRC said on Friday.

Judges in Middelburg agreed last month the men could be released in order to bring their children and ex partners to safety and then ‘help to defend their country’.

The department said on Thursday it would appeal against the decision, but a spokesman declined to say on what grounds.

The two men have already been released from jail and their current location is unknown.

‘If the court says that the two suspects must return, lower judges will be less likely to suspend pre-trial detention in future cases involving Ukrainian suspects,’ said Henk van Asselt, a lawyer for one of the Ukrainians. 

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