It is significant for the largest murder trial in Dutch history that nine of the 17 defendants conspicuously stayed away from the verdict. Above all, Ridouan Taghi, the man who pulled the strings in all the cases at issue here, has never made a secret of his contempt for law and order. He once said that it would be better to spend the money that this “sham trial” costs on more teachers, doctors or police officers. “If the judge just gives me life tomorrow: OK, so be it.” Well, that’s right, the judiciary was not impressed by Taghi’s cynicism. The 46-year-old and two other leading members of his drug gang received “life in prison” on Tuesday for several contract killings. In the Netherlands that means you will probably spend the rest of your life behind bars. Their 14 accomplices received between two and 29 years in prison.
Drug mafia in the Netherlands: Ridouan Taghi sentenced – Panorama
