Statewatch News online: Sweden: Gothenburg police chief acquitted over events of June 2001

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Sweden: Gothenburg police chief acquitted over events of June 2001


updated 25.2.04: The prosecutor (the parliamentary ombudsman) today decided to appeal the decision by the local court in the Jaldung-case.

The District Court of Gothenburg today (20.2.04) acquitted the former police commissioner Håkan Jaldung, chief of the police staff during the EU-Summit and visit of President Bush to Gothenburg, June 2001. Jaldung was accused unlawful deprivation of liberty, when he decided to shut the school by blocking it with containers, where more than 600 people were living. According to the court the prosecution failed to prove that the 454 activist's (later arrested, but none of them prosecuted) were denied the right to leave the area. Hence, there was no deprivation of liberty - everyone was free to leave the area.

It should be remembered that before this incident, no stone was thrown, no glass broken and no baton smashed anyone's head.

Jaldung was later forced to resign, just as the county police commissioner, but it was not until January this year he was finally charged for the incident. The county police commissioner, Ann-Charlotte Norrås, has not been charged at all.

1. Gothenburg, June 2001: report on the trials: Report
2. Statewatch report in June 2001: Public order policing in Europe - policy backlash expected: Public order


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