Prosecutors seek 4.5 years for lawyer accused of aiding Ridouan Taghi's crime network

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) on Thursday recommended a 4.5-year prison term for Inez Weski. The 71-year-old former lawyer faces charges of involvement in the criminal organization led by her former client, Ridouan Taghi.

Arrested in April 2023, Weski spent roughly six weeks in pretrial detention. The OM claims she “played a crucial role in sustaining Taghi’s drug trafficking and money laundering operations,” allegedly serving as a go-between for Taghi, who has been held in the Extra Secure Institution (EBI) since December 2019, and the outside world. Weski denies the charges and declined to answer questions, citing attorney-client confidentiality.

The OM has not factored in any alleged coercion in its sentencing request. It argues that Weski, as a seasoned defense lawyer accustomed to handling high-profile criminal cases, should have recognized and managed such pressure. “If threats become unacceptable, she should turn to the bar association or government authorities for assistance.”

The OM has factored Weski’s age and frail health into its sentencing request. The former lawyer was absent from the courtroom when the prosecution announced the proposed sentence.

The OM stated Thursday in Rotterdam that Ridouan Taghi’s sister, Nora, who fled to Morocco several years ago, is internationally wanted. Weski reportedly communicated regularly with Nora. The OM alleges that the former lawyer served as an intermediary between the incarcerated Taghi and his contacts outside, including his sister Nora and his son Faissal. Nora lived in Vianen before relocating to Morocco.

At the start of Thursday’s indictment in the trial against her, the prosecutor quoted Weski saying, “You know I didn’t want this. You must have seen the messages. You also know I won’t survive this.”

Police documented these statements from Weski during her arrest at her home in April 2023. The OM reports that she also said, “If only I hadn’t done it all,” and, “I’m going to die now, I won’t survive this.” The prosecutor characterized these comments as immediate, instinctive reactions.

Following these statements, Weski has consistently refused to comment on the allegations, citing her professional duty of confidentiality and denying any wrongdoing. “It is extremely frustrating that we cannot ascertain her motives,” the prosecutor remarked.

The OM claims that 71-year-old Weski “played a crucial role in continuing Taghi’s drug trafficking and money laundering,” serving as an intermediary between Taghi and important contacts outside, including his son Faissal and sister Nora. Faissal reportedly assumed control of his father’s criminal organization and was recently sentenced to six years in prison after a plea deal.

Weski reportedly used a phone capable of encrypted communication to send messages. The OM states she exchanged around 8,000 messages with Faissal. “Some are harmless,” the prosecutor noted, “but others concern the international trafficking of cocaine and hashish and the allocation of criminal proceeds.”

Weski and her attorney, Carry Knoops, confronted the OM over the reading of case file notes. “What the prosecutor is saying now is…,” Weski began, when Knoops interjected, “bullshit!” The presiding judge reprimanded both for the outburst.

The OM maintains that messages linked to Faissal Taghi may be disclosed in court. The defense opposes this, claiming the messages are protected by confidentiality.

Following a short break, the court ruled that the notes could be referenced but not read aloud. “We’ll mention them and stop there,” the judge said.

Following the lunch break, Knoops addressed the issue again due to media confusion. She told the court that she had been the one to interject with the remark and that it was not directed at the OM. Weski added that she had never used the word herself.

Ridouan Taghi, the primary suspect in the large-scale Marengo murder trial, has been incarcerated in Vught’s Extra Secure Institution since December 2019. He was sentenced to life in prison, and the verdict is now under appeal.