Paul S. (45) from Roosendaal has been given TBS with compulsory treatment because he threatened crime journalist John van den Heuvel and lawyer Inez Weski and her colleagues with death. S. also placed a fake bomb in front of the Saudi embassy in The Hague. In a threatening video, the man wore a witch mask.
The threats took place in May 2021. Weski’s law firm received an email from Paul S. In it, he wrote that the lawyers “had no idea what was about to happen to them,” followed by emoticons of explosions, a middle finger and a devil.
The National Criminal Investigation Department also received an e-mail from the suspect with a threat to Inez Weski. She had to start looking forward to her funeral.
Chopping axe
That same month, the Roosendaler sent a Whatsapp message to De Telegraaf, where crime journalist John van den Heuvel works. In this, S. wrote, among other things, that he would visit Van den Heuvel as soon as possible to let him experience pain by torturing him with an axe.
After Paul S. was released, he went to the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in The Hague. There he put a backpack with an ammunition box at the front door. The area around the embassy was immediately cordoned off, public transport was shut down and the Defense Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service was called in.
Psychotic
The court in Breda speaks of serious, criminal offenses: lawyers and journalists must be able to do their work without fear for their safety and the fake bomb has caused a lot of shock at the embassy.
Nevertheless, in addition to the TBS order, the court does not impose a punishment on S. Experts have determined that during his actions he had a psychotic disorder including delusions. The man was therefore insanity, according to the court. Therefore, he is released from all prosecution and no punishment can be imposed.
Intensive supervision
The court believes that TBS with compulsory treatment is the best way to prevent recurrence and to protect society against the suspect. The court can impose a TBS for these criminal offenses for a maximum of 4 years. After the TBS order, S. will come under intensive supervision.
The video in which John van den Heuvel and Inez Weski were threatened: