News Report
Cabinet Confirms Error: Detainees Ridouan Taghi and Saïd R. Had Brief Contact
Amsterdam, 8 September 2024 – The Dutch Cabinet has confirmed an incident at the Extra Secure Institution (EBI) in Vught, where two high-profile detainees, Ridouan Taghi and Saïd R., had a brief contact due to an administrative error.
State Secretary Ingrid Coenradie (Justice and Security) addressed the matter in a letter to Parliament, acknowledging the incident and expressing her concern over the safety implications. She has requested the Dutch Justice Institute (DJI) to conduct a thorough evaluation and implement additional security measures as needed.
Taghi and Saïd R. are key suspects in the Marengo case, which involved multiple liquidations and other serious crimes. Both men were sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this year, with their appeals still pending.
The incident occurred when Taghi was moved to a department within the EBI at the end of July, where he is now situated just a few feet away from Saïd R. and fellow life prisoner Willem Holleeder. Taghi’s detention lawyer, Thomas van der Horst, had previously mentioned the contact without providing further details, prompting several political parties to seek clarification from the State Secretary.
In February, Taghi, Saïd R., and Mario R. were sentenced to life in prison for their roles in the Marengo trial, which encompassed six assassinations, four attempted killings, and plans to murder several others. The other 14 suspects in the case received sentences ranging from 21 months to 27 years.
Coenradie noted that, while brief visual contact between prisoners who are not placed together can occur under the direct supervision of staff in incidental situations, such an event is highly undesirable from a safety perspective.
The report also touches upon Ridouan Taghi’s son, Faissal, who is currently held in the same department where Taghi was previously situated. Faissal, who was recently extradited from Dubai, is in total isolation, a situation his lawyers describe as inhuman and disproportionate. Faissal is suspected of involvement in a criminal organization dealing with international drug trafficking and other serious crimes.
This incident at the EBI has raised questions about the prison’s security protocols and the management of high-profile inmates. The Dutch Justice Institute’s evaluation and the subsequent measures taken will be closely monitored by the public and the legal community alike.
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