Activism Dielsdorf district court acquits forest squatters for the most part
A judge at Dielsdorf district court has acquitted nine squatters of a forest in Rümlang for the most part. Two were only sentenced to fines of 100 francs.
17.07.2024, 15:58
17.07.2024, 16:22
SDA
It is unclear how the nine people are supposed to have participated in the occupation in the first place, as the judge said at the opening of the verdict on Wednesday. Two people who were on platforms in the trees during the eviction were fined 100 francs for not following police instructions.
The other suspects were found outside the camp. They wanted to collect cooking utensils from the camp, which had already been cleared by the police, said the judge. The police had not provided any evidence of their involvement. There were also no direct accusations against the accused by the municipality or the timber corporation.
Buildings were illegal
The trial focused on the accusation of aiding and abetting the violation of the Forest Act. For this, the activists were fined between 750 and 1000 francs by the governor's office.
The structures in the Rümlang forest were certainly illegal, said the judge. But who had erected the tents, tree huts, several boardwalks, a "wildlife toilet" and a medical tent was an open question. It was also unclear who had transported the required materials into the forest by motor vehicle without authorization, who had built them or who had helped to do so. This could not be proven against the accused.
Eleven people found in the forest
The accused did not appear in court. As they did not want to make any statements about the allegations, the judge dispensed with them. The sentences are not yet final.
The police found a total of eleven people in the forest. The other two cases against two young people were dropped.
At the same time, appeals are being lodged with the administrative court. There, activists are appealing against costs that were imposed on them for the police operation.
The "Forest not rubble" collective occupied the forest in April 2023 to protest against the planned expansion of a landfill site.
