The court in Amsterdam sentenced criminal kingpin Willem Holleeder to life in prison on Thursday. He was convicted of ordering six murders and participating in a criminal organization. Life in prison is the only fitting punishment for Holleeder, the court said. "You think you have unscrupulous and indifferent control over life and death", the court said , according to the NOS live blog on the trial.
Thomas van der Bijl
Mar 1 '19 14:56
Prosecutors in the Willem Holleeder murder trial have demanded life imprisonment for the notorious defendant. Holleeder, an alleged organized crime mastermind, is accused of ordering or otherwise taking part in the murders of five different men, and also manslaughter, attempted manslaughter, and running a criminal enterprise.
One prosecutor, Sabine Tammes, said Holleder was driven entirely by greed no matter what consequences befell his victims and their relations. "In the end, it was always about money," she said.
Oct 2 '18 11:50
Dino S. was arrested in his cell on Monday morning for involvement in the assassinations of Willem Endstra in May 2004 and John Mierement in November 2005, the police said on Monday. S. is already serving a life sentence for ordering the assassinations of Kees Houtman and Thomas van der Bijl, Nu.nl reports.
Jan 24 '18 17:57
Politicians, cryptocurrency companies and regulators appearing in parliament on Wednesday all agreed that clearer policy and regulations are needed around the developing cryptocurrency sphere.
Jun 30 '17 07:52
The court in Amsterdam sentenced four suspects to life in prison in the appeal of the so-called Passage process, which revolves around a number of Amsterdam underworld assassinations. Dino Soerel, Jesse R., Mohammed R. and Siegfried S. will all spend the rest of their lives in prison, the court ruled, NOS reports.
When this case was first tried in 2013, Soerel was sentenced to only six months in prison for money laundering, he was acquitted for his role in the assassinations. The other three already had life sentences hanging over their heads.
Nov 22 '16 11:39
Update: The Public Prosecutor demanded life in prison against four suspects in the appeal of the massive Amsterdam gangland murders trial known as the Passage-process in court on Tuesday. The trial started in 2007 and is still going. It revolves around seven assassinations - mostly in the Amsterdam underworld - and 10 suspects. The 11th suspect Ali Akgun was assassinated in 2014, NOS reports.
May 10 '16 09:57
An accusation of conflict of interest against Willem Holleeder's lawyer, Stijn Franken, will likely be discussed during a non-substantive hearing in the case against the top-criminal in the Amsterdam court on Tuesday
Dec 4 '15 14:05
Crime boss Willem Holleeder's defense wants 20 days each to question Holleeder's two sisters and ex-girlfriend. The Public Prosecutor wants these three women to be questioned directly in court, instead of behind closed doors
Sep 11 '15 08:34
Two new recorded conversations between crime boss Willem Holleeder and his sister Astrid have surfaced. These conversations were recorded by Astrid before Holleeder was arrested. Portions of these conversations have been added to the criminal file against him.
Jun 18 '15 13:30
The indictment against criminal boss Willem Holleeder has been expanded to include eliciting the murders of Willem Endstra, Cor van Hout and John Mieremet. He will also be charged with eliciting an attempted assassination against John Mieremet, the Public Prosecutor announced during a pro forma hearing on Thursday.
Jun 18 '15 09:06
The phone restrictions on Willem Holleeder in the maximum security prison in Vught, was lifted last week. He may now make phone calls. This worries Holleeder's sisters and ex-girlfriend - they are afraid that Holleeder will take revenge on them from jail.
Apr 23 '15 11:20
Notorious criminal boss Willem Holleeder can be linked to another assassination attempt in the criminal underworld. Holleeder has been in custody since December on suspicion of involvement in the assassinations of Kees Houtman and Thomas van der Bijl.
Mar 25 '15 11:00
Audio recordings of Willem Holleeder threatening his sister with death have leaked to the public just before the criminal case against Holleeder started in the court of Amsterdam today, AD reports. Holleeder stands trial for his possible involvement in the assassinations on Kees Houtman in 2005 and Thomas van der Bijl in 2006.
Mar 24 '15 08:34
Willem Holleeder is likely to hear the testimony given by the three most important women in his life for the first time today. His two sisters Astrid and Sonja and Sandra, the widow of Sam Klepper who was murdered in 2000, secretly testified about Holleeder's criminal life two years ago.
Mar 20 '15 12:55
There is a new witness who claims that Willem Holleeder, best known as one of the Heineken-kidnappers, is involved with assassinations in the underworld, the Public Prosecutor in Amsterdam said in an interview with EenVandaag.
Dec 16 '14 18:31
The Magistrate has decided that Willem Holleeder will be detained for a further two weeks, following his arrest on Saturday, December 13. Willem Holleeder was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the assassinations on Kees Houtman in 2005 and Thomas van der Bijl in 2006.
Dec 15 '14 14:16
The Public Prosecutor has confirmed that Willem Holleeder was arrested on Saturday, December 13th, on suspicion of complicity in murder and participation in a criminal organization.
Oct 6 '14 10:30
The immediate family of star witness Fred Ros is in so much danger of revenge attacks by the underworld, that justice has taken security measures.
Sep 15 '14 13:03
The Public Prosecutor started a new preliminary investigation into Willem Holleeder on September 10th. The investigation is led by investigating judge SF van Merwijk.
Apr 10 '14 14:05
Rob Grifhorst passed away in Amsterdam on Wednesday. He is known as 'the fifth Heineken kidnapper.' It is unclear what the cause of death was, but Grifhorst's passing was confirmed by his lawyer.
