The Dutch government says it sees no reason to pay damages to a former Transavia pilot found not guilty last year of involvement in death flights on behalf of the Argentine junta last year.

Dutch Argentine pilot Julio Poch had always denied involvement in death flights, in which opponents of the junta (1976-1983) were drugged and thrown from planes. At the end of last year he was cleared by a court in Argentina due to a lack of evidence.

His legal team then announced plans to sue the Dutch state. ‘It is important to clarify exactly what happened,’ lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops said in January. ‘We have information that influence was exerted at a high level. We want to hear ministers in a court case. This should never happen again.’

Dutch justice minister Ferd Grapperhaus told MPs on Monday that there is no reason for the state to recognise the damages claim. ‘There are no points which suggest the investigation was illegal,’ Grapperhuis said. The investigation, he said, was based on witness statements made from people who heard Poch talking about his past.

Poch was arrested in Spain in September 2009 while about to make his final flight for Transavia, where he had worked since 2003. There is no extradition treaty between the Netherlands and Argentina and the Dutch authorities had tipped off both Spain and Argentina as to his whereabouts prior to his arrest.

Poch was held in custody for eight years prior to the trial taking place.

Update, October 30: The Telegraaf reports that the Dutch state has given financial help to the three witnesses against Poch, despite rejecting several claims by Poch for legal support on the grounds there is ‘no Dutch interest’ in the case.