Zwolle, January 14, 2026

Today, the Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal issued an interim judgment in the appeal of a 66-year-old man. On March 12, 2025, he was fined 250 euros by the police court in Zwolle for public indecency on March 25, 2024, in Groningen.

Defense Investigation Requests

In the run-up to the hearing on December 17, 2025, the defense made requests to hear various witnesses and an expert. Additionally, they requested the reports of witnesses at the police control room and to make redacted parts of messages readable. These messages were requested via a so-called WOO request (Open Government Act). Today, the court rejects some requests because it does not find further investigation necessary. The request to hear as a witness the person who reported the alleged offense to the suspect, and the request to provide recordings of the reports, is granted by the court. 

Further Procedure

The investigating judge at the court – the examining magistrate – will first hear the reporter as a witness. Furthermore, the court asks the Public Prosecution Service to add the requested reports to the file. Once all this is completed, a new date will be set for the substantive hearing of the criminal case. 

Judgments

    ECLI:NL:GHARL:2026:183