Woman held following death of crown witness (update)

Tuesday 09 October 2007

A female friend of Bram Zeegers, a crown witness in the trial of suspected crime boss Willem Holleeder, has been arrested in connection with the investigation into his death, reports ANP news service.

Zeegers was found dead in his Amsterdam south home on Tuesday morning.
According to Olivier Dutilh, head of the serious crime squad in Amsterdam, the woman was found in a confused state at Zeegers’ home when police arrived. She was taken to hospital.

The body of the 58-year-old former lawyer Zeegers was found in the bath after a woman had made an emergency telephone call to police.

According to a police spokesman in the AD newspaper Zeegers was found in ‘suspicious circumstances’.

The prosecution service says that the sudden death of Zeegers does not affect the statements he has already made in the Holleeder case.

Meanwhile politicians from all the major parties are keeping quiet about the incident saying that it is a matter for the justice department.

Last week Zeegers gave evidence in the trial of Holleeder who is charged with the blackmail of four property tycoons and has been linked to ordering the murder of Endstra and several other killings.

Zeegers was a confidant of the property tycoon Willem Endstra who was shot dead in 2004.
In order not to be recognised Zeegers appeared in the heavily guarded court behind a black screen, says ANP.

Zeegers sketched a detailed picture of the hopeless situation Endstra found himself in as a result of a blackmail campaign, says the Telegraaf.

‘We discussed all the possibilities. We even talked about whether it would be a solution to shoot dead Willem Holleeder or give someone the information to do it. But it was theoretical, there was no solution,’ the paper quotes Zeegers as saying.

According to Zeegers, Endstra’s days were numbered after 2003. ‘I even went out and bought him a bullet-proof vest,’ quotes the Telegraaf.

Zeegers made 15 detailed police declarations during the preparation of the Holleeder case.

Elsevier crime reporter Gerlof Leistra told BNR Nieuwsradio that he had spoken to Zeegers yesterday ‘He didn’t seem to be afraid but he was realistic, he knew he was in danger.’

© DutchNews.nl

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