Footballer Quincy Promes to remain in custody; Pre-trial detention extended

Footballer Quincy Promes will remain in custody for the time being, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday. According to the court, there are still sufficient reasons to keep him detained, including the risk that he might flee abroad. Former Oranje international Promes is suspected of cocaine smuggling and stabbing his cousin. The district-court sentenced him to a total of 7.5 years in prison. The case is currently under appeal and is in the preparatory phase.

Promes was arrested last month in Dubai, where he had been playing football until then. Shortly afterward, he was extradited to the Netherlands, where he has been held since. According to his lawyer, Cem Polat, Promes has received several offers from football clubs that he could join if released, including clubs in Dubai and Latvia. There is also interest from Dutch clubs, though Polat did not name any.

Promes was present at the hearing on Tuesday. A section of the hearing took place behind closed doors, after Promes’ attorney had requested this.

The district court in Amsterdam had previously sentenced Promes to six years in prison for involvement in the trafficking of cocaine and 18 months' jail for stabbing his cousin at a family party in Abcoude.

Promes is accused of trafficking about 1,362 kilograms of cocaine through the Port of Antwerp in 2020. The court found he orchestrated shipments disguised as sea salt containers, using encrypted messages under the alias “Fantasma” to coordinate logistics and payments.

The incident surrounding the stabbing of his cousin allegedly occurred during a family party in June 2020. The incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute over a stolen necklace.

Both cases have been combined in the appeal. The case will not yet be heard on its merits on Tuesday. Promes denies involvement in both charges; he repeated his claims on Tuesday that he is innocent.

Promes, who played for the Dutch national team on 50 occasions, was playing for UAE second division side United FC Dubai until his arrest. Before this, the winger had played for Ajax, FC Twente, Go Ahead Eagles, Sevilla, and Spartak Moscow. The Netherlands had requested his extradition from Dubai.