Jakarta, IndonesiaSentinel.com — Dutch King Willem-Alexander has apologized after Dutch SWAT officers mistakenly detained a radio DJ and his friends at gunpoint, believing they posed a threat to Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia. The incident occurred on August 2, 2024, as the group traveled from Amsterdam to Antwerp, following the same route as the princess.
The men, including DJ Serginio, were stopped near Frankrijklei in Antwerp and held for questioning at a police station for about an hour before being released. Authorities quickly realized the group was not a danger to the princess, who is the daughter of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
In response to the wrongful detention, the Dutch Royal Family issued an apology on August 23, 2024. “We were contacted by a spokesperson from the Royal Household, who conveyed that King Willem-Alexander wanted us to know that the Royal Family understands how frightening the experience was for our client and his friend,” said Vito Shukrula, Serginio’s lawyer, in a statement reported by Hello Magazine on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
According to Shukrula, the King expressed sympathy on behalf of the Royal Family and acknowledged that Serginio and his friends were victims of the situation. The incident, he noted, was an unintended consequence of the heightened security measures necessary to protect the Royal Family.
“For us, this case was about receiving acknowledgment from the Royal Family for the mistake that was made,” Shukrula stated. He criticized the Dutch Secret Service for its error in judgment, but added that they have accepted the Royal Family’s apology and will not pursue legal action.
“We’ve achieved what we sought—recognition of the unjust and terrifying arrest of my client and his friends,” Shukrula said. The safety of the Crown Princess has been a significant concern since she became the target of a kidnapping plot by the Dutch mafia, which forced her into hiding in Madrid for over a year.
Reflecting on the experience, Serginio told Dutch media outlet NOS, “A lot of things go through your mind. You start to wonder if racial profiling might be involved. It’s a feeling everyone of color has when they’re unlawfully stopped.” However, he said he does not believe his appearance was the reason for his detention.
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The incident adds to the ongoing security concerns surrounding Princess Catharina-Amalia. In 2022, threats against her forced the princess to leave her university dormitory in Amsterdam and return home to the Royal Palace. Speaking during a state visit to Sweden in October 2022, Queen Maxima shared the impact on her daughter’s life.
“It has had a big impact on her life. It means she doesn’t live in Amsterdam and can’t really go out. The consequences are very tough for her. There’s no student life for her like there is for other students. I’m very proud of her and how she’s handling everything,” the Queen said at the time.
(Agung)
