The trial for the case, which concerns a drug trafficking case based in a café in Esch-sur-Alzette, began on Monday. Fifteen people were summoned to court, including the manager of the café in question, but only nine appeared to answer charges.
The president of the court praised the police for their intervention in the affair, which culminated in a successful operation in October last year. Officers had carried out surveillance on the café for several weeks prior to the strike. The café owner was accused of making the premises available for drug trafficking.
The café owner's lawyer said any dealings took place outside the café, so his client did not realise what was going on, and requested acquittal. Another defendant also demanded acquittal, while two more lawyers asked that their clients be given suspended prison sentences.
One of the defendants requesting acquittal testified that he had not been involved and simply lived around the corner. According to the defendant, dealers were found on the street around the café. The judge, however, pointed to two previous convictions in Belgium on the defendant's record, which were not known to the defendant's lawyer.
Another defendant stated he had not been himself when selling drugs, due to personal issues. He also claimed not to have sold drugs in the café in question.
The trial could end on Thursday, despite eight court sessions originally planned for the case.
