On 3-9-2004 Maarten had a hearing about his Häkte (remand) imprisonment, untill the date of his trial.

His lawyer argued that as Maaten had been able to move freely for the last 3 years in Holland, and he had a place to stay in Gothenburg, there wasn’t a good reason for not releasing him, untill the 23rd of September. He also stated that there was no chance Maarten would flee, as he had reported himself to the Amsterdam Courthouse just several days before.
The prosecutor said that as in Holland there had been actions for and by Maarten not to be extradited, which he held against him. He was also rather angry about the video shown, as evidence by the defence, which he saw yesterday for the first time. He confirms that it is Maarten standing casually on the containers, on the tape, while not hitting a police-officer. But he concluded that this must have happend at a later stage. This is in fact impossible as this was the last moment when people climed the containers, and Maarten was arrested directly after he was pushed off. Something which is confirmed by witnesses, but was not of much interest to the prosecutor. The case-report was gone through step by step, as the prosecution cliamed that contradictory statements by officers were not off much importance as police can also not recall all details all the time. That is not say the police witnesses cannot be trusted on other accounts.

The hearing lasted about 2 hours after which the judge took at least 15 minutes bihind closed doors, to decide. Eventually Maarten was sent back to remand prison, because he wasn’t sure Maarten woouldn’t attempt to flee. Maarten will be therefore be in the Gothenburg remand-prison untill his trial comes up. An institute which has been critisized by Amnesty International for years now.

You can still write to Maarten at the following address:

Maarten Blok 04-332
Kriminalvården
Kriminalvards Myndigheten Göteborg
Hisingen/Förorter
Anstaltenskogome
Box 3003
422 03 Hisingsbacka
Sweden