Wikipedia

Marengo trial

The Marengo trial, also known as the Marengo case (Dutch: Marengo-proces), is a legal proceeding involving alleged high-ranking members of the Mocro Maffia, a Dutch-Moroccan criminal organisation.[1][2] The trial centers on seventeen defendants accused of participating in numerous murders and attempted murders.[3]

On 27 February 2024, the trial concluded after six years of proceedings. Among the seventeen individuals prosecuted, three were sentenced to life imprisonment, including Ridouan Taghi and Saïd Razzouki, who were convicted for their roles in ten murders.[4]

Suspects

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Name Requested
sentence[5] 		Verdict Lawyers
Ridouan Taghi Life imprisonment Life imprisonment Inez Weski (-2023)
Susanne Boersma (-2023)
Laura Versluis (-2023)[6]
Michael Ruperti (2023)
Arthur van der Biezen [nl](2023)
Sjoerd van Berge Henegouwen (2023)
Saïd Razzouki Life imprisonment Life imprisonment Christian Flokstra (-2021)[7]
Nico Meijering (-2021)[7]
Robert van ’t Land
Mark Dunsbergen[8]
Mohamed Razzouki Life imprisonment 27 years Christian Flokstra
Nico Meijering[9]
Zaki Razzouki 14 years 5 years,
8 months 		Yassine Bouchikhi[10]
Zakaria A. 25 years,
8 months 		9 years,
6 months 		Jan-Hein Kuijpers[11]
Charif el A. 16 years 3 years,
8 months 		Peter Plasman [nl][12]
Mohammed el Aissaoui 26 years,
5 months 		13 years,
7 months 		Marcel Heuvelmans[13]
Zakaria el H. 26 years,
8 months 		23 years,
4 months 		Jurriaan de Vries[14]
Bagdad el H. 16 years 8 years,
7 months 		Ruud van Boom
Richard O. 5 years,
11 months 		1 years,
9 months 		Max den Blanken
Achraf B. Life imprisonment 29 years,
2 months 		Guy Weski[15]
Mohamed M. 16 years 5 years,
6 months 		Christian Flokstra
Arthur M. 23 years,
8 months 		19 years,
3 months 		Shirley Sprinter
Mao R. Life imprisonment 15 years,
8 months 		Inez Weski[16]
Susanne Boersma[16]
Mario R. Life imprisonment Life imprisonment Inez Weski[16]
Susanne Boersma[16]
Walid M. 20 years 15 years,
2 months 		C. van Oort[17]

Accusations

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```

Charges

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140 Sr.

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This investigation pertains to participation in a criminal organization during the period from July 1, 2015, to January 14, 2017.

Rudolf

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This investigation pertained to the murder of Ronald Bakker and the preparation of an attack on the spy shop where he worked.

Bakker was murdered because he allegedly provided the police with information about customers of the store in Nieuwegein where he worked. In a separate case, two 'spotters' were also convicted for this murder.[18]

Preparatory actions for causing an explosion in the spy shop in Nieuwegein, where Bakker was employed. Taghi suspected the company of collaborating with the police and judiciary. This was evident from messages intercepted by the police via PGP phones between Taghi and co-defendants, which could only be cracked years later.[19]

Ster

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This investigation pertained to the preparation of the murder of Fachtali and the murder of Samir Erraghib. According to intercepted messages (PGPs), Taghi believed Erraghib had passed information about his organization to the police.[20]

Aker

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This investigation pertained to the murder of Abderrahim Belhadj. According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), Taghi ordered his liquidation because Belhadj allegedly stole two blocks of cocaine.[21][a]

Kreta

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This investigation pertained to the preparation of the murder of the El Margai brothers, Buzhu, and Scekic, and the murder of the latter. Scekic was murdered just before he was due to testify in a criminal case against Taghi in Utrecht. He was allegedly part of a group preparing murders on behalf of Taghi.

Raspvijl

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Attempted murder of Martin Kok. In June 2016, ex-criminal and crime blogger Martin Kok published on his website Vlinderscrime about two of Taghi's accomplices. In July 2016, an attempt was made to liquidate Kok by placing a bomb under the car he was driving, but it was discovered in time.

Tennis

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Attempted murder of Abdelkarim Ahabad.

Plato

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Attempted murder of Khalil B. In the night, Khalil B house was entered by two or three men armed with automatic weapons. Badho managed to escape through the window.[23]

Zeilboot

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Attempted murder of Martin Kok and murder of Martin Kok. On September 12, 2016, Kok wrote on his website about Taghi, Richard R., and Naoufal F. On the afternoon of December 8 in Amsterdam-South, another attempt was made on Kok's life, but the shooter's weapon jammed, unbeknownst to Kok. That same evening, Kok was eventually liquidated in Laren.[24] For luring Kok into a trap, a Scottish man was convicted in a separate case.[25]

Roos

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Murder of Hakim Changachi. According to the prosecution, Changachi was not the intended target of the murder, but rather Khalid Hmidat.[b]

Doorn

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Preparation of the murder of Khalid Hmidat. Khalid Hmidat was the intended target of the liquidation in which Changachi was killed. A few days later, a new murder attempt followed, but Hmidat noticed his pursuers in time and alerted the police.[27][28]

Crown witness

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A breakthrough was made when Nabil B., one of the suspects, offered to give a statement.[29] Shortly after, Nabil's non-criminal brother was murdered, after which Nabil pulled out, later changing his decision.[30] His attorney, Derk Wiersum, was killed on 18 September 2019.[31]

 
Flowers at Dam Square, Amsterdam after the Killing of Peter R. de Vries. The text reads "Attack on the freedom of press? No, an attack on his involvement with the Marengo trial!"

The investigative journalist and crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was supporting the crown witness in the trial. On 6 July 2021, he was shot in the head after leaving the television studio of RTL Boulevard in Amsterdam where he had appeared as a guest. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition. On 15 July he died as a result of the shooting.

Name

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The name Marengo was chosen randomly by a computer and is derived from a type of fabric with the same name.[32]

Notes

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  1. ^ The shooter of the murder has not been found. The person who lured Belhadj into the trap received an 18-year prison sentence in a separate case on appeal.[22]
  2. ^ Four other involved parties, including the two shooters, were convicted in a separate case.[26] Justin Jap Tjong was also involved according to the OM, but was murdered for refusing to assist in the second murder attempt on the original target.

References

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  1. ^ Boztas, Senay (10 July 2021). "The top journalist, the mafia boss and the gunman: Dutch fear the rise of 'narco crime'". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  2. ^ Cluskey, Peter (16 July 2021). "Growing belief Dutch state behind in tackling crime after journalist's killing". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Strafzaak Marengo". www.om.nl. Openbaar Ministerie. October 1, 2019.
  4. ^ "Levenslang voor Ridouan Taghi en twee anderen in Marengo-proces".
  5. ^ Laumans, Wouter; Vugts, Paul (2022-06-28). "OM eist levenslang tegen Ridouan Taghi en vier medeverdachten". Het Parool. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  6. ^ Laumans, Wouter (2023-04-25). "Arrestatie Weski brengt proces Taghi in problemen: vier hoofdrolspelers zonder advocaat". Het Parool.
  7. ^ a b "Advocaten Saïd Razzouki leggen verdediging neer".
  8. ^ "Advocaten Marengoverdachte Saïd Razzouki vermoeden afluisteren in EBI". Het Parool. 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  9. ^ Tieleman, Yelle (2022-03-29). "Advocaten van Mohamed Razzouki, verdachte in Marengo-proces, staken de actieve verdediging". Het Parool. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  10. ^ "Rechtbank laat 5de verdachte vrij in liquidatiezaak rond Taghi". Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  11. ^ Vugts, Paul (2018-11-13). "Zakaria A. nu ook gearresteerd als lid 'bende van Taghi'". Het Parool. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  12. ^ "Rechtbank laat verdachte zaak-Taghi voorlopig vrij". Het Parool. 2020-05-19. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  13. ^ Vugts, Paul (2022-05-22). "Verdachte wil vrijlating om jongerenstichting Ex-Marengo op te zetten, OM is tegen". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  14. ^ "Advocaten uit Marengo-proces kwaad over RTL-documentaire".
  15. ^ Vugts, Paul (2018-10-03). "Verdachte moord Martin Kok aangehouden in jacht op Taghi". Het Parool. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  16. ^ a b c d Laumans, Wouter; Vugts, Paul (2022-09-16). "Advocaten Taghi en Mao en Mario R.: 'Veeg de hele liquidatiezaak Marengo van tafel'". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  17. ^ Tieleman, Yelle; Voskuil, Koen (2019-11-25). "Handlanger van Taghi aangehouden na kraken van chatgesprekken". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  18. ^ "Tot 15 jaar cel voor 'spotters' moord medewerker spyshop Huizen". Het Parool. 2020-03-09. Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  19. ^ Van den Heuvel, John; Van Wely, Mick (20 September 2019). "Dit staat in huiveringwekkende recherchestukken - Taghi plande moorden met anti-tankwapen". de Telegraaf (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2023-02-08.
  20. ^ "Ontsleuteld bericht Ridouan T. naar nieuwe verdachten: 'Als jullie Erraghib vermoorden, worden jullie goed beloond'". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2021-12-01.
  21. ^ "OM noteert nog een moord op aanklacht Taghi" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2023-04-07.
  22. ^ https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/jayjay-krijgt-fors-hogere-straf-voor-betrokkenheid-liquidatie~bbb4142d/. Archived on April 29, 2023.
  23. ^ "Aanklacht Taghi uitgebreid met 3 moordpogingen en 2 liquidaties". Archived from the original on 28 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Martin Kok overleefde andere aanslag op dag van zijn dood". Archived from the original on 2023-04-08.
  25. ^ "Schot (33) schuldig bevonden in moordzaak Martin Kok". het Parool. 2022-03-31. Archived from the original on 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  26. ^ https://www.ad.nl/utrecht/straf-vergismoord-op-hakim-changachi-in-overvecht-valt-lager-uit-gewetenloos-niet-te-bevatten~a893cda3/. Archived on April 30, 2023.
  27. ^ "OM eist 26 jaar tegen verdachten van 'vergismoord' op Hakim Changachi". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2023-06-25.
  28. ^ "Guyno O. en Ferrel T. ontkennen 'vergismoord' op Hakim Changachi". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2021-12-06.
  29. ^ "Strafproces Marengo" (in Dutch). Openbaar Ministerie. Archived from the original on 2019-12-19. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  30. ^ ANP (2020-06-26). "'Kroongetuige Nabil B. verklaart weer in Marengo-proces'". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  31. ^ "Dutch gangster case: Shock at murder of lawyer Derk Wiersum". BBCs. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  32. ^ "Waarom heet het onderzoek naar Taghi en zijn bende eigenlijk 'Marengo'?". ad.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-02-13.
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