Ridouan Taghi has reported the repeated violation of professional secrecy by one or more employees of the Extra Secure Institution (EBI) in Vught, the Public Prosecution Service or the police. Inez Weski, lawyer for the main suspect in the Marengo trial, announced this on Thursday to The watchword and the ANP news agency. Because stories containing confidential information have come out at various times in the Dutch media since Taghi’s incarceration in 2019, Weski concludes that tapping or leaking has taken place.
‘Wrong innuendo’
According to Weski, who already announced the report last month, information has been leaked to The Telegraph and VVD Member of Parliament Ulysse Ellian. They would connect to that information “all kinds of incorrect innuendo”, she tells the ANP. Earlier, Weski spoke of a “public trial” of her client.
Last month, Ellian and . reported The Telegraph that Taghi and Mohammed B., the murderer of Theo van Gogh who is also imprisoned in the EBI, have sent each other secret messages, hidden in Koran verses. Also reported The Telegraph and Ellian that Taghi could communicate with people outside his detention center without restriction and almost unsupervised. According to the newspaper, investigation officials are concerned about the contacts between Mohammed B. and Taghi.
On Wednesday, Minister Franc Weerwind (Legal Protection, D66) said in the House of Representatives that he cannot prohibit such correspondence in advance. Ellian said he has a “different legal view” on the matter and advocated allowing a maximum of two lawyers with detainees in the EBI; according to Weerwind, an “infringement of fundamental rights, such as the free choice of lawyers”.