Tuesday 10 December 2019

Public prosecutor says no political interference in Wilders trial

Public prosecutor says no political interference in Wilders trial

The public prosecution department said on Monday that it had found no evidence of political interference in the decision to prosecute anti-Islam campaigner and MP Geert Wilders for discrimination after leading supporters in an anti-Moroccan chant. Wilders has called on the public prosecution department to drop the case, alleging that there was political interference in the decision-making process, but the department has consistently denied coming under ministerial pressure. The finding was made public during Monday’s procedural court hearing, which was... More >

Den Bosch rape: five suspects are family

Den Bosch rape: five suspects are family

Five of the eight young men arrested on charges of raping minors in dawn raids on Tuesday are cousins, the Telegraaf said on Wednesday. Relatives told the paper that they cannot believe the men, aged 18 to 26, are guilty of grooming, possibly drugging and raping three girls aged 15 and 16 in a ‘chill room’ at a car sales room in Den Bosch. Despite the family’s protestations, police have described the case as a sex case of considerable magnitude... More >

MH17: 'Russia let potential suspect flee'

MH17: 'Russia let potential suspect flee'

Dutch prosecutors have accused Russia of deliberately allowing a potential suspect in the MH17 investigation to flee across the border to his native Ukraine to avoid standing trial. Vladimir Tsemakh was transferred from Ukraine to Moscow as part of a prisoner transfer programme in September, having been arrested on terrorism charges in June. Dutch prosecutors were allowed to question him as a ‘person of interest’ before he boarded the plane. Ukraine, like Russia, does not extradite its own citizens, but... More >

Police in The Hague arrest stab suspect

Police in The Hague arrest stab suspect

Police in The Hague said on Saturday evening they have arrested a 35-year-old man suspected of stabbing three teenagers in a busy shopping street on Friday night. They have released no other details about the man, but said on Twitter he is of ‘no fixed abode’ and has been taken in for questioning. The teenagers – a 13-year-old boy from The Hague, and two 15-year-old girls from Alphen aan den Rijn and Leiderdorp – were treated in hospital and released... More >

The Hague police still hunting for stabber

The Hague police still hunting for stabber

Police in The Hague are still hunting the man who stabbed three teenagers in a busy shopping street on Friday night and have not yet released a description of the man they want to question. The teenagers – a 13-year-old boy from The Hague, and two 15-year-old girls from Alphen aan den Rijn and Leiderdorp – were treated in hospital and released on Friday evening. They did not know each other, police said, and appear to have been chosen at... More >

Dutchman accused of football fraud

Dutchman accused of football fraud

A Danish first division football team has filed a criminal complaint after signing a Dutchman who, the club says, had no skills and seems to have conned his way into the club. Bernio Verhagen, 25, arrived at Viborg in October, claiming to have been on transfer from Chilean side Audax Italiano. But he was taken off the pitch at the very first training session due to his ‘footballing qualities’. That, ‘coupled with a very messy private life’ reinforced the suspicion... More >

Dutch cocaine smuggler gets 16 years

Dutch cocaine smuggler gets 16 years

A 61-year-old Dutchman has been sentenced to 16 years in jail at Bristol Crown Court for smuggling cocaine with a street value of €155m to Britain on a yacht. Originally both crew members, Maarten Pieterse and Emile Schoemaker, were arrested but Schoemaker was later released without charge. The boat was intercepted nearly 200 kilometres off the coast of Cornwall in July of last year in an operation involving British, Portuguese, French, Spanish and Dutch officials. The cocaine was hidden in... More >

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