A lawyer and a judge specialising in guardianship have been acquitted following a trial for abuse of office.
Both defendants were good colleagues and had many dealings with one another, on both private and professional levels. The guardianship judge had also awarded his lawyer friend many contracts, amounting to over 200 cases in 12 years. These dealings were said to have created conditions to allow a potential abuse of office.
The public prosecutor's office sought a sentence without penalty on the grounds that there was no evidence of profits for both parties. If the two parties concerned had been found guilty, then wrongdoing would have been established, but they would not have been fined or imprisoned.
On Thursday morning, the district court announced the verdict. Only the lawyer was physically present before the court. Both defendants were acquitted.
The lawyer in question expressed relief following the verdict. He said he had continued to work during the trial, but felt glad could now put the affair behind him and do a better job.
