The government of Sierra Leone has in no way had contact with the Netherlands or with a Dutch intelligence service about Jos Leijdekkers from Breda, aka Bolle Jos. That is what the Minister of Information from Sierra Leone tells Nieuwsuur.
“Neither Interpol nor the police nor the government has told us that they are looking for someone who is staying in our country and who has been convicted of a crime.”
Last week AD and Follow the Money Images on which drug lord Jos Leijdekkers may be seen during a church service on New Year’s Day, in the President’s birth village. Two rows behind him are the most wanted criminal in the Netherlands together with the president’s daughter.
Commissioned murder
Leijdekkers is seen as one of the most important organizers of the international cocaine trade. Last June, in absentia, he was sentenced to 24 years in prison for involvement in six drug transports of a total of six thousand kilos. According to the court, he also ordered murder.
After extensive investigation, the police and the OM have been ‘completely certain’ for about half a year that he is staying in Sierra Leone.
‘We find this remarkable’
The minister calls that the Netherlands has been knowing for some time that Leijdekkers is in Sierra Leone. “I think the Dutch authorities did not have the courtesy to share that information with us. There are constantly many people who enter our country,” he says to News hour.
Also read: Drug lane Bolle Jos is hiding in Sierra Leone
“I am sure that they also penetrate your country. But we find this remarkable.” The Public Prosecution Service does not want to say whether there has been contact with Sierra Leone about Jos L.
Own research
The West African country has now started an investigation into the possible presence of Jos L. “Nobody has told us anything. That is why we are now doing research ourselves. We have invited the Dutch government, Interpol and anyone who is in this matter interested in To show that we want to work together and determine facts.
If the Netherlands asks for delivery of Leijdekers, Sierra Leone will follow the law, says the minister of information. “We will follow international law,” he says.
“We have an extradition treaty from 1974. If it appears that here is someone who meets that threshold for extradition, we will deal with that request as we handle every extradition request. Because we are a country that complies with the law.”
Knoops: no extradition treaty
Lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops calls it ‘not plausible’ that there was no contact at all between Sierra Leone and the Netherlands. “Research is being conducted into the identity of this person, so there must be a request on that.”
According to Knoops, there is no extradition treaty between the Netherlands and Sierra Leone, but extradition could take place on the basis of a UN treaty against organized crime, which was also used at Ridouan Taghi.
Also read: Bolle Jos is in Sierra Leone, Land wants to collaborate with the Netherlands
“The only question is how Sierra Leone will respond to this. Because despite that treaty, that country can still set as a condition that there must also be an extradition treaty with the Netherlands.”
If Sierra Leone does agree with the UN Convention, then Bolle Jos can be declared undesirable and deported, according to Knoops. “And we know from the Taghi case that this is allowed by the court.”
Provisional arrest
Criminal law expert Göran Sluiter thinks that if the Netherlands wants security, should be asked as soon as possible for provisional arrest of Leijdekkers. “With a view to extradition to the Netherlands.”
According to Sluiter, that Sierra Leone says he has not heard anything from the Netherlands. “Or that contact is, but then we will not be honestly communicated, in the interest of the research, or for other considerations.”
View crime explained here about Bolle Jos: