AMSTERDAM, 03/12/05 - The trial of 13 members of the Hofstad alleged terrorist network begins Monday. The district court in The Hague has allocated two and a half months for the proceedings.
The Public Prosecutor (OM) wants to demonstrate in the case that Hofstad is a criminal organisation with terrorist intentions. Prominent member Mohammed Bouyeri was recently sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of filmmaker, columnist and Islam critic Theo van Gogh. Bouyeri will now stand trial again, though he cannot receive any extra sentence.
The case will open Monday with the cross-examination of a Muslim woman, Malika. She made an incriminating statement to the police on the existence of Hofstad. But she did not want to repeat this to the investigating judge. Since this week, she has been held in custody of the court.
According to the OM, Malika's statement is incriminating for four suspects, including Bouyeri. During the last pro-forma court session in September, prosecutor A. van Dam said he has incriminating statements from five Muslim women on the terrorist motives of the Hofstad group.
Islamologist R. Peters will also be among the first to be heard. The professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern Law at the University of Amsterdam appeared earlier as an expert witness in the Van Gogh murder case. Peters has researched the digital material that was found on the suspects' computers.
From 8 December, the individual suspects' cases will be heard. One day is allocated for each. The court will begin with Bouyeri. He will be followed by other leading figures: Jason Walters (9 December), Ismail Akhnikh (12 December) and Nouriddin El Fatmi (16 December).
On 13, 15, 19, 20, 22 and 23 December, the court will consider the other suspects' cases. Following a recess, it will resume on 5, 6, 9 and 10 January. The last suspect to stand trial, on 10 January, is Jermaine Walters, younger brother of Jason.
Prosecutors Van Dam and Koos Plooy will make their closing arguments on all cases on 13 January. On 16, 17, 19, 20, 23 and 25 January, it will be the turn of the defence; on each day, the lawyers of two or three suspects will make their pleas.
The OM can reply on 27 January, after which the lawyers will have scope for their rejoinder on 30 and 31 January and 1 February. This is also the moment for the suspects to have their last word. The court will formally conclude the cases on 10 February, after which the verdict is due on 24 February.
The court will decide Monday whether Saleh Bouali will also be heard as a witness. He has been identified by various suspects as an agent of the AIVD secret police. During his interrogation by the police, he refused to say anything. AIVD denies that Bouali works for it. Nor has the OM found any indications of this.
Bouali is in custody on suspicion of participating in terrorist activities of Hofstad and the possession and supply of a hand-grenade to Jason Walters and Ismail Akhnikh. During the siege of their home in The Hague on 10 November 2004, they wounded police by throwing this hand-grenade.
From security considerations, the court case will take place in the extra-secure court building in Amsterdam. The court is under the presidency of Judge A. de Boer.
