Police officer spat upon in Sambreville in 2020: defendant contests charges of insult and resistance
During COVID-19 lockdown in Moignelée, a police officer was spat upon in the face. Hicham, pursued for insult and resistance to police, contests the allegations before the court.
Lockdown in Sambreville: defendant opposes conviction for insult to police officers
DHnet reports that in March 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, two police officers on patrol at Moignelée square in Sambreville attempted to disperse a gathering that breached social distancing rules. They were met with insults and threats. One of them received a spit in the face from an individual shouting that he had COVID.
The inspector ultimately did not contract the virus, but was forced into several weeks of isolation away from his family, uncertain of his test results. He was placed on leave for two months in total, with a partial loss of salary. His lawyer, acting as civil party, is claiming €4,800 in civil damages, including €2,300 for moral prejudice. "At that time, we didn't yet know much about the virus, we knew it could be fatal and there was no vaccine yet," the lawyer reminded the court.
Hicham, facing charges of insult and resistance to police, appeared in opposition to a criminal court ruling that had granted him a simple declaration of guilt without sentence due to the age of the matter. Judge Romain Jadin immediately questioned the usefulness of this approach: "You benefited from a simple declaration of guilt without sentence due to the age of the matter, what more can the court do?"
The defendant nonetheless wishes to contest the charges brought against him. He claims he was simply explaining himself to the officers: "I just explained that I was going to go cycling with friends, as I was entitled to do." He furthermore denies being the author of the spitting, which is not contested by the prosecution. His defence therefore argues that he should not be targeted by the civil compensation claims.
Substitute prosecutor Samain, on behalf of the state, maintains that the facts of resistance to police and insult are established against him. According to the officers' reports, Hicham moved in a threatening manner towards them, to the point of standing almost face to face, and called them "shitty cops" whilst saying: "We are at home here, nobody is going to move, we're going to teach you a lesson, what are you going to do with just two of you…"
Hicham denies these statements, whilst acknowledging the little credibility he expects: "But I know full well that if you have the word of two police officers against mine, you're going to believe them, it's only natural." The judgment is expected for 20 November.
Source: DHnet