The court handling the trial of crime boss suspect Willem Holleeder and nine others on Monday temporarily suspended the case, saying it would review the situation in the beginning of May. The court will then decide whether Holleeder, who had major heart surgery last week, has recovered enough continue his trial.

Public prosecutor Koos Plooij said that Holleeder could be discharged from hospital in two weeks and described his lawyer’s call for a three to six month recovery period a ‘defence strategy’. Plooij stressed that there was a difference between a full recovery and being well enough to continue trial.