Dutch Court Releases Businessman Suspected of Aiding Iraq’s Past Chemical Weapons Efforts

A Dutch court yesterday ordered the release from custody of businessman Fran van Anraat, who has been accused of providing chemical weapons precursors to former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, according to the Associated Press (see GSN, Dec. 7, 2004).

The release might indicate that Dutch prosecutors do not have enough evidence to convict Van Anraat on suspicion of aiding genocide by supplying materials that Hussein used in the 1988 chemical attack on Halabja that killed more than 5,000 people, AP reported. A court spokesman declined to comment.

Van Anraat’s first public court hearing is set for March (Associated Press, Jan. 27).

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