Up to 30 years in prison for 8 violent robberies that left 1 dead, 2 critically hurt

On Monday afternoon, the court at Schiphol imposed prison sentences ranging from 3 years and 9 months to almost 30 years on six men for their involvement in a series of extremely violent robberies in 2020 and 2021. Seven of the robberis happened in Noord-Holland, one in Dreumel, Gelderland. One person was killed, and two suffered life-threatening injuries due to gun violence.

The highest sentence of almost 30 years in prison went to 31-year-old Glen V. from Noord-Scharwoude. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) had asked for life in prison against him. Ruviëni M. (39) from Rotterdam, Deniz R. (28) from Obdam, and Mark V. (31) from Opmeer got 27, 25, and 20 years in prison, respectively.

The four, described by the OM as the core of the gang of robbers, were involved in almost all of the robberies. Two men who were involved in one home invasion, Dut M. (30) from Alkmaar and Martijn G. (28) from Heeurhugowaard, were sentenced to 6.5 years and 3 years and 9 months in prison, respectively.

The OM previously described the robbers as “the absolute extreme category” in terms of the violence used. During one robbery in June 2021, 72-year-old Sjaak Groot was shot dead in Berkhout. Two people were shot in the neck and chest during robberies in Avenhorn and Noord-Scharwoude. In a home invasion in Heerhugowaard, the suspects burned the resident with a hot iron on his shoulder to force him to open a safe. Victims were beaten with crowbars in several other robberies. And all victims were seriously threatened.

The suspects denied the allegations against them and largely remained silent, except for G. He confessed to taking part in one robbery and made incriminating statements about the other suspects.