The Amelanders suspected of harassing a camera crew from broadcaster PowNed during the Sunneklaas celebration in December 2023 heard demands for 180 hours of community service and a three-month suspended prison sentence against them on Tuesday.
The Public Prosecution Service also demands a driving ban of six months for Rob K. and nine months for Jesse V. In addition, the judiciary demands compensation of 750 euros for the cameraman of PowNed for immaterial damage.
K. and V. are suspected of public violence, threats and coercion in association, which also obstructed the free collection of news.
Journalists from broadcaster PowNed came to Ameland on December 5, 2023, to make a report about Sunneklaas. That is an alternative Sinterklaas celebration that is only celebrated on the Wadden Island. No people from outside are welcome at the party.
Some residents of the island wanted to prevent the journalists from entering the island. That is why they attacked the journalists. Some visitors to the party jumped on the car of the PowNed team. The journalists were also chased and repeatedly cornered.
V. said in court that he regrets his actions. “But I preferred not to be filmed,” he explained. “Ameland is always open to tourists. We just want to celebrate a party as Amelanders for two days without tourists. If they had started the conversation with us on the pier, the rest would not have happened.”
Both suspects lost their jobs as taxi drivers after the incident.
The court in Leeuwarden will rule on July 15.