Heineken kidnapper Holleeder again named in gangland killing probe

The public prosecution department has begun a new investigation into the involvement of convicted kidnapper and blackmailer Willem Holleeder in three gangland killings, Dutch media say on Monday.

A crown witness has told officials working a case involving a string of murders that Holleeder is behind the killings of fellow Heineken kidnapper Cor van Hout plus underworld figures Kees Houtman and Thomas van der Bijl.

The public prosecution department said on Friday it had made a deal with the witness, named as Fred R, in return for his evidence.

Fred R earlier gave evidence against two other gangland bosses, Dino S and Ali A, both of whom were found not guilty of involvement in the murders. The police have long suspected Holleeder also had a role but have not yet brought any charges against him.

Witness

Earlier, another crown witness, Peter La Serpe, made similar accusations against Holleeder but those claims will not form part of the case, Dutch media say.

Holleeder was released from jail in 2012 after serving five years for his part in blackmailing three property tycoons.

He was earlier jailed in the 1980s for kidnapping beer magnate Freddie Heineken. The equivalent of €16m was paid in 1983 to free Heineken and his chauffeur Ab Doderer, much of which was found buried in woods near Zeist shortly after they were freed.

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