Achraf B., the man suspected of involvement in the murder of Martin Kok, was arrested in his cell Tuesday in another investigation. It is possible that the arrest is related to the large police operation that took place Tuesday.
Achraf B. is in full confinement because of his new suspicion and is only allowed contact with his lawyer.
B.'s lawyer Guy Weski could not say, when asked, whether his client was indeed arrested as part of the large-scale police action in Nieuwegein, Utrecht, Vianen and Tiel. Seven men were arrested in that action.
The Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) cannot yet comment on this either. The arrest was announced Wednesday during the second preliminary hearing at the extra-security court Justice Complex Schiphol in Badhoevedorp.
Achraf B. is currently the only person on trial in the investigation into the murder of Martin Kok. He is suspected of aiding and abetting.
Cook was shot dead in parking lot in 2016
Crime journalist Kok was shot dead in the parking lot of sex club Boccaccio in Laren on Dec. 8, 2016. Earlier that evening, he unknowingly survived an attempt on his life in front of the CitizenM hotel in Amsterdam.
The 25-year-old Achraf B. from Utrecht was arrested in April. He came into the picture after his DNA was found on two phones. The phones in question were beamed on near the hotel where the failed assassination attempt on Kok took place and near the sex club in Laren.
NFI investigates PGP phones
The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) is still investigating and trying to see the PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) phones. These are phones that allow encrypted communication.
In addition, Anouar B. made an incriminating statement about Achraf B. in March of this year. The witness is himself detained in Morocco on suspicion of involvement in a mistake murder in Marrakech.
According to Anouar B., Achraf B. told him that he was present at Kok's murder. Justice is still investigating further to verify the testimony.
Englishman possibly involved in Kok murder
Achraf B. also allegedly told the witness that an Englishman was involved in the murder. The man allegedly lured Kok to a certain spot so that he could be shot.
Cook was in the company of a Briton on the evening of his death. They were both visiting the sex club in Laren. The man was arrested at the time on suspicion of involvement, but released fairly quickly.
When asked, the prosecutor did not want to reveal whether it was the same person. A prosecutor's spokesman would not say whether the Briton's possible involvement was still being investigated.
According to the Briton's lawyer, Maarten Pijnenburg, the man is still formally a suspect, but has not been heard from since his release. According to Pijnenburg, the man was a business contact of Kok.
Suspect also prosecuted for weapons and drug possession
Achraf B. is also being prosecuted for weapons and drug possession and money laundering. Weski informs that the money and weapon were found at the location where his client was staying, but that the residence is not in his name. B. therefore denies that those items belong to him.
The court decided Tuesday that Achraf B. will remain detained until the next hearing on Dec. 12.
