Gangland killing witness says he was promised cash

The key crown witness in a major gangland killing trial claims the public prosecution department had promised him a substantial sum of money to give evidence against the other defendants, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday.


The trial of 10 men and one woman charged with at least seven gangland killings started in the high-security court in Amsterdam in 2009.
The prosecution case centres on witness Peter la Serpe, a former gang member, who will be heard from a specially-protected witness box.
€1 million
Last June there were claims La Serpe will get over €1m to pay for his security and build up a new life after the trial. The claims were denied by the public prosecution department, which said La Serpe would not get a lump sum of cash, but a regular payment.
But now the key witness claims he was promised a large sum when he leaves prison after serving eight years for his role in the murders.
Promising cash in return for witness statements is illegal and may hurt the entire case, the paper says.
According to the Volkskrant, chief judge Frits Lauwaars said he planned to look into the department’s promises to La Serpe.

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