On February 27, 2022, a man from Coevorden and two others set fire to a Mercedes near Dalerveen, which had previously been used in a targeted collision in Emmen. He is also suspected of fraud, assault and theft.
The court in Assen spent the entire morning dealing with the seven offenses of which the man (20) from Coevorden is suspected. In addition to destroying the Mercedes, he is also said to be involved in serious assault, bank help desk fraud and theft of car parts.
Attempted manslaughter
On February 27, 2022, a 35-year-old man driving a mobility scooter was deliberately hit with the Mercedes – stolen in Germany. The driver, a 28-year-old man from Assen, was sentenced to five years in prison last summer for this attempted manslaughter. The twenty-something from Coevorden is said to have helped to set the car on fire after the collision, to prevent it from serving as evidence.
After the fire, the man from Coevorden was first suspected of involvement in the collision and spent more than a hundred days in pre-trial detention. The Public Prosecution Service decided not to prosecute him further for this. They do believe that the suspect was involved in the arson.
Stolen debit card
The man does not deny this, but he does not want to say how exactly he became involved in the incident. “I can only explain myself,” he notes, but according to the judges, he also only shares the minimum about his own share. After the fire, he is said to have acted as a driver for his co-suspects, although he does not have a driver’s license. He does not want to say anything about the further course of action. “Right to remain silent,” he repeats sullenly in response to questions from the judges.
In addition to destroying evidence, he is held responsible for six other offenses. In 2022, he was involved, among other things, in defrauding a woman from Groningen, who, after an alarming phone call, handed over her PIN code, debit card and scanner to the suspect and his associates. She thought they were bank employees. The Coevorder can be recognized on camera images as he withdraws money with her debit card. He is also mentioned in two other fraud cases, as well as a theft at a car company in Steenwijk.
Shattered eye socket
The public prosecutor specifically focuses on an assault case, in which she believes the suspect played a role. The victim was beaten by three men, resulting in a broken nose and shattered eye socket. The suspect allegedly threatened with more violence if the victim reported to the police.
A very nasty thing, says the officer. “He has given many people a great feeling of insecurity. You can’t just take that away.” According to her, there is enough evidence to prove all seven facts. She thinks it is positive that the man indicates to the probation service that he wants to improve his life and that he has severed ties with his old friends. “But today we see little evidence of remorse at the hearing. That doesn’t fit with cleaning up.”
Reporting obligation
Because the suspect is still young, she wants to give the suspect one serious chance to get his life on track. “That is why I demand an unconditional prison sentence that lasts as long as the pre-trial detention.” This means that if it is up to her, the man does not have to go back to jail. She does demand a conditional prison sentence of 10 months, with a probation period of 3 years.
During that period, the man must undergo outpatient supervision and is required to report to the probation service. Because, according to the officer, he may feel that he has colored outside the lines, the suspect also has to work 200 hours. The victims of the assault and theft at the car company are still asking for compensation.
The court will make its ruling in two weeks.