A police officer who advertised relics from the MH17 plane crash for sale online, including clothing he wore during the investigation, will not face prosecution, the public prosecution department said in a statement on Friday.

Both the packet of tissues and the unnamed ‘material’ were from the plane but were found outside the search area and were not considered important in identifying the people responsible for bringing down the plane, the department said.

In addition, the clothing offered for sale had never been collected after use. ‘None of the items offered for sale were obtained illegally’ and the police officer had done nothing wrong, the department said. The police officer had put the collection for sale for €1,500.

Unethical

The officer, who was suspended during the investigation, has been reinstated at a lower rank. Police chiefs described his action as ‘unethical, inappropriate and shocking for victims and relatives, and for our entire society.’

The man, who came forward after the advert was removed from the Marktplaats website, has said that in retrospect his action was inappropriate and upsetting.

All 298 people were killed when the plane was brought down by a missile, probably fired by pro-Russian rebels.