Amsterdam “fake cop” scam that killed 80-year-old woman also linked to fraud case

Two of the three suspects accused in the death of 80-year-old Irene Winkel, following a confrontation with a fake police officer in her Amsterdam Nieuw-West home, are also linked to a fraud case in Haarlem. The public prosecutor noted on Wednesday at a preparatory court hearing that the cases appear to follow “the same pattern.”

Ben H.,23, and 26-year-old Achraf Z. are reported to have taken a round trip from Amsterdam to Haarlem in H.’s taxi on July 29. H. is also believed to have used the same phone number in both this trip and the fatal scam targeting Irene Winkel on August 13. The prosecutor stated that H. refused to offer any explanation for either incident.

Z. was taken into custody on November 10 and has admitted to the fraud in Haarlem. He is also facing charges for possession of hard drugs. During his first court appearance on Wednesday, he said, “What happened is very serious. It should never have happened.” His lawyer explained that Z. thought he was only going to retrieve something and did not expect any violence.

Authorities suspect that Ben H., Achraf Z., and Oussama El G., 21, were all involved in the incident that resulted in Irene Winkel’s death. El G. reportedly posed as a police officer performing a lock inspection, while H. allegedly called Winkel to alert her to El G.’s arrival and told her she was on a “burglar list.”

When Irene Winkel grew suspicious and attempted to remove El G. from her home, he allegedly used force. The suspect admitted to striking Winkel. He is said to have taken her jewelry and later returned to cover up evidence of the crime.

The prosecution questions El G.’s account, citing the victim’s injuries as cause for concern. The violence he allegedly used is now being investigated. The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) is examining, among other evidence, video footage from an interrogation in which the suspect reenacts the blow.

Oussama El G. is scheduled to undergo an examination at the Pieter Baan Center, potentially as early as March, the prosecutor said. The suspect has already declared that he will refuse to cooperate.

The next court session is set for April 29, and the suspects will stay in detention until that date. “You will remain in custody for the time being,” the judge stated. Charges against a fourth suspect, a woman, had already been dropped by the prosecution.