The Dutch Public Prosecutor Service commented on the final report of Security Board of the Netherlands about the facts and circumstances of the crash of MH17 flight on 17 July, 2014, Ukrinform reports.
“The Joint Investigation Team (JTI) had already announced that in the criminal investigation, the most likely scenario is that MH17 was shot down by a BUK. In order to obtain conclusive criminal evidence, it is also necessary that other scenarios, such as the possibility that flight MH17 was shot down by another type of missile or that it was shot from the air, can be ruled out convincingly,” said in the statement.
At the Public Prosecutor Service of the Netherlands told that the burden of proof in a criminal case is heavier and consequently the criminal investigation is more time-consuming. Therefore, the criminal investigation into the crash of flight MH17 will still be fully continued in 2016, stated at the Dutch Prosecutor Service.
“The criminal court will ultimately have to establish that it could have been no other weapon than a BUK and that any alternatives can be ruled out beyond any doubt. Furthermore, it is required to establish a link with potential suspects.The aspects which are most time-consuming are finding and hearing the many witnesses, as well as the big data-analysis. The inquiry takes place under difficult conditions, especially concerning the gathering of evidence and interviewing witnesses in the relevant area, where an armed conflict is still ongoing,” said in the statement.