Swiss police officers cleared of racial profiling
A court in Zurich has acquitted three police officers accused of abuse of power and endangering the life and health of a Nigerian man.
A district court on Wednesday rejected a case filed by the 45-year-old man, who had accused the police of racial profiling in an incident in 2009. The verdict is in line with a plea by the prosecutor.
The man claimed he was attacked during a police check with pepper spray, beaten up and gagged despite suffering from a heart condition.
The officers, two men and a woman, argued they had to defend themselves against the man, who had assaulted them during a police check of three black tram passengers late at night.
The long-running case was initially scheduled for 2016 following a ruling by the Federal Court, which overturned attempts by the prosecutor and a cantonal court to abandon proceedings.
It was further complicated by the Nigerian filing additional charges and delaying the legal process.
The district court resumed the case last week amid public protests.
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