PHILIPSBURG:---- Press prosecutor Karola Van Nie has denounced all rumors posted on Facebook where it is stating that the prosecutor’s office has dropped all charges against blogger Judith Roumou who was in pre-trial detention for six days after a number of persons filed complaints ranging from defamation, slander, extortion, identity theft, and threat against them.
Prosecutor Van Nie made clear that Roumou who was arrested on June 30th 2015 at her St. Peters home was released on July 6th 2015 on request of the prosecutor’ office under special conditions.
In a press release dated July 6th 2015 Prosecutor Van Nie said the following:-
Pre-trial detention of blogger suspended
The 40-year-old woman, J.R., who is suspected of harassment (stalking), amongst other crimes, is released from her pre-trial detention today, July 6, 2015. The woman was arrested on Tuesday, June 30,
2015 on suspicion of slander, defamation, insult, threat, extortion and harassment (stalking).
Given the nature of the crimes and the personal circumstances of the suspect, the prosecutor advised the judge of instruction to suspend the pre-trial detention under certain special conditions. The suspect is not allowed to contact the people that pressed charges against her and she must visit the probation service. Also she needs to cooperate in the creation of a psychological and/or psychiatric report and she cannot commit new crimes.
The judge followed this advice. Het public prosecutors services had not taken any decision on further prosecution of the blogger yet. It is not yet known when a court hearing will take place.
On Saturday morning Prosecutor Van Nie said that Roumou still remains a suspect in the ongoing investigation even though no court date has not yet been set. The press prosecutor also added that although people are referring to this case as a case of restricting freedom of the press, it is not about that. Careful readers of our earlier press releases know that the criminal charges concern a whole scale of criminal facts, from stalking to threat, insult, slander and defamation.
