31 suspects acquitted in Belgian drug trial because the process took too long

In Belgium, 31 defendants, including Dutch drug criminal John H., were acquitted due to excessive delays in their trial, which lasted over five years without justifiable reasons. The court noted that the case was not particularly complex and that the delays were not caused by the defendants' actions. The prosecution had sought over 160 years of prison sentences for the group, with H. facing 18 years. The defendants were part of a criminal organization involved in the production of synthetic drugs. The federal prosecutor's office plans to appeal the decision.