The viral Dutchman whose arrest video set social media ablaze will be cooling his heels in a police cell for the foreseeable future.
A court has granted prosecutors’ wishes, ordering the 47-year-old to be detained at Port Police Station for 14 days as investigators untangle a web of alleged crimes that include assault, drug charges, and even attacking the officers sent to arrest him.
The dramatic court decision on Thursday, October 30, caps off a chaotic 48 hours that began at the idyllic Boma Banda Cottage in Diani.
According to preliminary reports, the situation erupted when the suspect allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, prompting the cottage management to call authorities over a violent public disturbance.
But the drama was just beginning.
Upon his arrest, the Dutchman was escorted to the Diani Police Station, where he allegedly turned his aggression on the officers, adding “resisting arrest” to his growing list of charges.
In a bizarre twist, he later attempted to publicly plead his case by issuing an apology, only to then justify the assault by claiming his lover had allegedly stolen from him.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (SADPP) Rosemary Nandi laid out the serious nature of the case.
She informed the court that the suspect is under active investigation for assault, malicious damage to property, resisting arrest, and facing separate drug-related charges.
The prosecution strongly opposed any notion of release, arguing that setting the Dutchman free prematurely “could compromise the integrity of the investigations and impede justice for the victims involved.”
“The allegations are serious in nature, and investigations are ongoing in multiple directions,” Ms. Nandi asserted, adding a powerful statement that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) remains committed to pursuing justice “regardless of the suspect’s nationality.”
Faced with these arguments, and the suspect’s own claim to be “suffering from psychosis” during his police station episode, Senior Resident Magistrate Joy Mutimba sided with the state.
She granted the full 14-day detention order, allowing police to hold the suspect until their investigations are complete.
The matter is now set for mention on November 13, where the court will confirm the progress of the investigations and determine the next course of action.
This case has intensified a broader crackdown by coastal authorities on foreign nationals suspected of engaging in criminal activities, particularly in tourism hotspots like Lamu, Malindi, and Diani. The message from the judiciary appears clear: viral fame and dramatic excuses will not trump the pursuit of justice.
