Hero of the Dutch military mission to Afghanistan Marco Kroon says customers of his bar in the southern city of Den Bosch have attempted to blacken his name.

Last year, the 39-year-old Afghan war veteran won the highest military honour, being made a knight of the Military Willem's Order. The award is very rarely given, the last time was over 50 years ago.

However, at the end of January, the Dutch prosecution authorities announced they suspected him of possession of drugs and violation of gun laws.

On Tuesday night, his lawyer told Dutch television programme Nova that customers at Mr Kroon's bar had laced his drink on Boxing Day. He had also been offered 'space cake', which contains drugs. The lawyer told Nova his client actually wanted his bar to be drugs-free and had thrown customers out who did not respect this policy.

The Prosecutor's office is scheduled to decide this week whether or not to go ahead and prosecute Mr Kroons.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide