Two police officers are appearing in court after a suspected drugs courier was shot and wounded as he tried to flee a car chase on foot.

The man needed hospital treatment for intestinal damage suffered when an officer’s bullet struck him in the buttocks and exited through his stomach. Police opened fire as he ran from his car on Tatraweg in Tilburg in May 2014, the Telegraaf reported.

The two officers, who appeared at Breda’s district court on Monday, are accused of intentionally causing severe bodily harm. Lawyers said there was no emergency that would have justified the use of firearms.

The officers said they decided to draw their weapons because the man was too far away to pursue on foot.