Ridouan Taghi-Wanted
A lawyer representing a key witness against a Moroccan mafia figure who is described as the most hunted man in the Netherlands, has been shot and killed. Translation of the Dutch article from Hart van Nederland by Fousesquawk.
https://www.hartvannederland.nl/nieuws/2019/nieuw-onschuldig-slachtoffer-mocro-maffia/
Liquidated lawyer is not the first death connected to the trial against the Moroccan Mafia
18 September 2019, 12:13, update 18 September, 20:20
The shot-to-death Derk Wiersum (44) was the lawyer for Nabil B, who is Crown's witness in the case against the most sought after criminal in the Netherlands, Ridouan Taghi. Wiersum was said to spoken last week over the need for security of his surroundings, and he was liquidated this morning. He leaves behind a wife and two children.
The lawyer was sworn in in 2003 and subsequently worked in various law offices in Amsterdam. Since this year he has had his own office in the capital. In recent years, he has focused on serious or organized crime cases. In that capacity, he assisted Crown witness Nabil B. in the Marengo trial. The chief suspect in that case is Ridouan Taghi.
Mocro (Moroccan) Mafia
The trial, in which 16 people are suspected, revolves around a series of ruthless liquidations and attempts to that end in the Amsterdam underworld. The motives range from revenge for betrayal to anger over unpaid debts.
According to the Public Prosecutor's Ministry (OM), all lines come together at the fugitive Taghi. He is seen as one of the leaders of a criminal group that is popularly known as the 'mocro-mafia'. His gang is suspected of at least six murders in the period between 2015 and 2017.
Innocent people murdered
The criminals around Taghi do not shy away from using heavy violence in public space. For example, a man in IJsselstein was shot to death while his little daughter sat with him in his car. The girl was unharmed. The murder is believed to have been commissioned by Taghi.
In Utrecht, a man was shot dead at the entrance to his flat. It appears to have been a mistake. A few days later another attempt was made to liquidate the intended target, but it failed. According to Nabil B., Taghi is the (one who gave the order).
Taghi is also connected with the murder of crime blogger and ex-criminal Martin Kok. He (Kok) was shot to death in his car in the parking lot of a sex club in Laren in December 2016. Several unsuccessful attempts preceded the murder including with a bomb.
Brother of Crown witness murdered
In March last year, a new low point was reached. (Police) announce that they are looking for Taghi, this after incriminating statements by the new Crown witness, Nabil B. Six days later, his (Nabil) brother Reduan B., was shot to death at his company in Amsterdam-Noord.
Nabil B. was at that time represented by two lawyers, Derk Wiersum and Bart Stapert. The murder of the brother was reason for Stapert to stop with the case, even as a lawyer. "It was a wake up call." he said about it in De Volkskrant (People's Newspaper).
The family of the Crown witness are very critical of the Public Prosecutor, and let it be known they do not feel safe. Police and Justice acknowledged earlier this year that they misjudged the threat to the family. "We knew that the group could be violent, but we were not prepared for a liquidation (killing)."
Threatened earlier
Now the only remaining lawyer for Nabil B.has been shot to death. According to various media, Wiersum was threatened earlier, but the lawyer was not under security until last week. He is reported to have expressed his worries to colleagues and spoke to them about the need for security.
Aside from his work as a lawyer, Wiersum was active for almost 15 years with the Foundation for Legal Help for (those) Sentenced to Death. The organization is dedicated to the fight against the death penalty.
Aside from his work as a lawyer, Wiersum was active for almost 15 years with the Foundation for Legal Help for (those) Sentenced to Death. The organization is dedicated to the fight against the death penalty.
The motive behind the liquidation is as yet not clear. The perpetrator fled after the shots and is on the loose. The Public Prosecutor and police have not yet spoken out about a motive.
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