Wanted criminals officially charged with multiple assassinations: report

The Public Prosecutor officially charged fugitive criminals Ridouan Taghi and Said Razzouki with orchestrating and complicity in at least three assassinations, multiple sources confirmed to newspaper AD.

Taghi and Razzouki have been on international wanted lists since March 2018, but still haven't been found. The Public Prosecution Service therefore decided to prosecute them in absentia, according to the newspaper. They are charged with the murders of Samir Erraghib, Ranko Skekic, and Hakim Chengachi. They were linked to these crimes through testimony given by key witness Nabil B. and encrypted messages the police intercepted.

Crime reporter John van den Heuvel, who received death threats from Taghi, is pleased that the Prosecutor is moving forward with this case. "I think it is a logical step. You can't keep waiting endlessly because you can't find them", he said to RTL Boulevard. "If you look at the statements made by key witness Nabil B. and the encrypted PGP messages, then it seems to be a foregone conclusion. Willem Holleeder was sentenced for less."