News

The defense announced an appeal against the verdict of the district court of Overijssel (Zwolle). Among other things, the defense disputes that the Netherlands has jurisdiction in human smuggling and calls the court's reasoning untenable.

De rechtbank heeft twee mannen veroordeeld tot gevangenisstraffen van drie en drieënhalf jaar voor hun betrokkenheid bij de overval op een juwelier in Tilburg op 11 december 2024. Volgens de rechtbank was sprake van een geplande actie. Het Openbaar Ministerie had hogere straffen geëist, maar de rechtbank hield bij de strafoplegging onder meer rekening met de ernst van het geweld, de planmatigheid van het handelen en de impact op de slachtoffers. Een derde verdachte is nog voortvluchtig.

De Hoge Raad heeft de veroordeling van oud-wethouder Guernaoui voor het schenden van de geheimhoudingsplicht definitief in stand gelaten. Guernaoui had tijdens zijn wethouderschap een vertrouwelijke ambtelijke e-mail doorgestuurd aan een ondernemer, wat het hof strafbaar achtte, maar waarvoor geen straf werd opgelegd. In cassatie oordeelde de Hoge Raad dat het hof het recht correct had toegepast en het oordeel voldoende had gemotiveerd. Verdere rechtsmiddelen zijn niet mogelijk.

Lawyer Micha Jonge Vos of Kötter, L'Homme & Plasman Lawyers is assisting one of the suspects in a Delft criminal case in which the Public Prosecutor's Office speaks of alleged ‘mafia collection practices. His client, Carlo M., is alleged to have been involved in attempted extortion, but Jonge Vos disputes the reliability of the evidence used by the prosecution, including transmitter data. The court will rule on Dec. 17.

HLN published an article about the fornication case against Marco Borsato, in which Mr. Peter Plasman is acting on behalf of the minor victim. Plasman emphasizes that Borsato's defense is trying to distract from the core of the accusation by peripheral stories. The criminal lawyer argues that all side issues are irrelevant: the only issue is whether Borsato touched the girl inappropriately. His client is not asking for jail time or money, but recognition.

During session day 6 in the criminal case against ‘Walid,’ Mr. Simcha Plas and Mr. Jordi L'Homme argued that the Netherlands has no jurisdiction over the human smuggling charges. According to the defense, the facts were committed entirely in Africa and there is no concrete link to the Netherlands. Also, the identity of the accused would not be established and the evidence falls short: witness statements vary greatly and could have been influenced by social media.

An article appeared on NOS about a criminal case in which Mr. Simcha Plas and Mr. Jordi L'Homme are assisting a client suspected of large-scale human smuggling. The Public Prosecutor's Office is demanding twenty years in prison against a 42-year-old Eritrean who, according to the prosecution, led a violent smuggling organization. The defendant denies involvement and his lawyers argue that the Netherlands has no jurisdiction.

The Rotterdam District Court has demanded 11 years in prison and tbs for two Vlaardingen foster parents suspected of extreme violence against four foster children. The most severely affected girl, now 11 years old, suffered permanent brain damage and can never live independently again. The prosecutor speaks of a case that is “unique in its horror.” The verdict will follow later.

The Supreme Court has confirmed that the criminal case involving kidnapped Insiya need not be reheard. Still, her return from India remains uncertain. Despite final Dutch convictions of the kidnappers, Insiya's return depends on Indian authorities. Nadia, the girl's mother, remains committed to keeping the case visible.

At the start of the trial at the Overijssel District Court, Mr. L'Homme and Mr. Plas argued on behalf of their client Walid that the Public Prosecution was inadmissible because he had already been convicted in Ethiopia for the same offenses and the Netherlands had no jurisdiction over the Libyan events. Walid is labeled by the prosecution as one of the most notorious human smugglers in the world, but the defense strenuously disputes then frame.

Attorney Peter Plasman is acting for the alleged victim in the criminal case against singer Marco Borsato. Plasman considers the demanded five-month prison sentence “balanced,” taking into account both the seriousness of the facts and the perspective of the victim.

Attorney Peter Plasman is representing the alleged victim in the case against Marco Borsato. The victim seeks only recognition of the injustice - no compensation or jail time. A possible acknowledgment might have prevented the lawsuit.