THE HAGUE, 18/09/08 - The policeman unmasked as a spy for the Moroccan intelligence service is working at Rotterdam Airport. The airport management saw no reason to refuse him a job.

TV current affairs programme NOVA discovered this week that the man of Moroccan origin, Re Lemhaouli, was unmasked last spring by the Dutch AIVD secret service as a spy for the Moroccan secret service. Although he was sacked, the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) decided not to prosecute him. The case has been hushed up by criminal investigation authorities and politicians, according to NOVA.

Lemhaouli was the initiator of Project Maxima, named after Princess Maxima, which trained 57 Moroccan problem youngsters as ground personnel for Rotterdam Airport. After he got unmasked as a spy and fired from the police corps, he took a job there himself.

"He has been given an office function. But he is not allowed to come on the airside part of the airport," said spokeswoman Desiree Breedveld yesterday in Algemeen Dagblad. "There is no fundamental objection to allowing him to work here."

The national police department however announced yesterday that it would after all launch a criminal investigation. This should bring to light more details. NOVA has so far been unable to discover what information Lemhaouli passed on.

Lemhaouli was allowed to sit next to Princess Maxima, the wife of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, during the presentation of the Project Maxima on 1 February. Vice-Premier Andre Rouvoet praised Lemhaouli in a speech.

NOVA suggested that the OM did not prosecute Lemhaouli because this could generate negative media publicity about the 'multicultural society'. The conservatives (VVD), among other parties, have requested clarification from the government.