The lawsuit against the Looijk Cartel will start next Tuesday, October 24, with a pro forma hearing. Two suspects who are seen as the administrators of the Telegram group and have served their maximum time in pre-trial detention will then appear before the court in Utrecht. This concerns a 26-year-old man from Deurne and a 39-year-old man from Venlo.
The suspects who will be arraigned on Tuesday are charged with participation in a criminal organization aimed at incitement, threats, assault and destruction.
The Looijk Cartel, which at its peak numbered around ten thousand people, is held responsible for threats, stalking and intimidation of Bradley van Dijk, his niece Belita van Dijk, but also other family members, friends and even neighbors. Six suspects have currently been arrested in the case, but the investigation is still ongoing. During this pro forma hearing, two suspects are brought to trial and it is determined whether additional investigation needs to be conducted.
The substantive treatment of the case, in which four other suspects have been arrested, will follow later. There are four other suspects in this case; a 30-year-old man from Steenwijk, a 24-year-old man from Beverwijk and two underage boys, a 16-year-old boy from Hoorn and a 15-year-old boy from Zaandam. The man from Deurne and the man from Venlo are currently still in custody.
NH Gooi will look back and ahead on this complex case with Mayor Gerhard van den Top of Hilversum tomorrow in an extensive interview.