Joost Klein’s case concerning his disqualification from the Eurovision Song Contest is moving closer to resolution, though progress has been delayed due to pending translations. The Swedish lawyer representing Klein expects proceedings to resume in a few weeks, once the witness statements from the Netherlands have been translated. These statements are currently being processed by the Swedish Prosecution Authority.
Once the translations are complete, the Swedish prosecutors will compare them with the existing body of evidence gathered during the investigation. This comparison will determine whether there’s sufficient evidence to pursue charges against the singer. The Swedish Prosecution Authority has not disclosed a timeframe for completing this process or making a decision on prosecution.
The case gained momentum earlier this week when news broke that the Dutch Public Prosecution Service had questioned new witnesses. This was done at the request of the Swedish authorities. Details about the identities and number of these witnesses remain undisclosed. This unexpected development necessitated the postponement of the initial hearing date.
Klein’s Eurovision journey was cut short after a backstage incident led to his disqualification. The European Broadcasting Union said that the sanctions were due to the artist’s behavior, which was “deemed in breach of Contest rules.” This marked the first time a participant was disqualified before the final competition.
The exact date for the next hearing in Klein’s case remains unknown. The outcome will depend heavily on the Swedish Prosecution Authority’s evaluation of the translated witness statements alongside the existing evidence.
Photo: Corinne Cumming/EBU
