The Eindhoven crime reporter John van den Heuvel has been threatened with death from a Colombian cell by Saïd R., the right-hand man of Ridouan T. This is apparent from messages that NU.nl has seen.
Van den Heuvel has had the strictest possible security for many years. Saïd R. was arrested at the beginning of 2020 after a year-long manhunt, but after his arrest continued to threaten the Telegraaf reporter.
According to Nu.nl The communication of liquidation suspect R. dates from August 2020, six months after his arrest. In reports attributed to the criminal leader, he says that the journalist must pay. “He thinks he’s safe now” and “hope he moves more.”
‘Tackling hard’
The direct reason for the threat is the alleged contact between Van den Heuvel and a criminal rival of R. The criminal is not mentioned by name, but he is said to be part of a collaboration of criminal organizations against Ridouan T.
“That’s why that dog John has to pay,” R. said in a message sent with an encrypted phone. An unidentified person sends back: “Yes brother, a really dirty dirty dog but just have to be tough.” R. says he hopes he will be here for “years”, by which he means Colombia, according to the police. “Then we can also hunt well because it is quiet for too long,” said R.
Evidence
“This is once again proof that a certain category of suspects also continue their criminal activities from prison,” Van den Heuvel told NU.nl. He refers to Ridouan T., who, despite his presence in the Extra Secure Institution (EBI) in Vught, was still able to communicate with the outside world.
Incidentally, R. is now also staying in this highest-security prison in the Netherlands. R. is there awaiting the substantive treatment of his trial. This is being conducted separately from his co-defendants in the Marengo trial.
Saïd R. was arrested in February 2020 after a long search. He was hiding in an apartment in the Colombian city of Medellin.