Prosecutors demand up to 20 years for Haarlem murder attempt
Prosecutors want long prison terms for six people over a paid plot to kill Iranian activist Siamak Tahmasbi, and the court will rule on 21 December.
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The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has demanded prison sentences of up to 20 years against five men and one woman over the attempted murder of Iranian activist and publicist Siamak Tahmasbi in Haarlem, on the night of 5 to 6 June 2024. The hearing was held in the high-security courtroom at Schiphol.
The prosecution describes the six suspects as a hired murder squad willing to kill for gain. The prosecutor told the court: “In front of you is a murder squad that, for its own gain and to order, wants to kill people, whoever they are and wherever they are. They fly out there, arm themselves and carry it out.” The prosecutor also called the attempt an attack on freedom of expression.
The highest demand, 20 years, is against Sami Bekal Bounouare (29), whom prosecutors see as the leader of the group. He is on the run, and the demand was made in his absence. Prosecutors demanded 15 years and 2 months against the 40-year-old Tunisian Mehrez A, and 13 years and 3 months against the 29-year-old Colombian Gabriel O. Both were arrested after the attempt.
A 29-year-old woman from Den Bosch faces a demand of six years for complicity. Prosecutors accuse her of watching the victim’s home and sending updates. A 42-year-old Colombian man, accused of involvement in the preparations in May, faces 10 years and 6 months. A 23-year-old Frenchman, accused of hiding weapons in Santpoort-Noord, faces seven years.
After earlier threats, Tahmasbi had an alarm button and security cameras at home. That night he saw two men on the camera images and pressed the button. Police arrived quickly and arrested two men who had firearms on them.
The OM says a possible role of Iran is not part of the criminal investigation. The intelligence service AIVD says in its 2024 annual report that Iran is probably responsible for the attempt. The national branch of the OM, the Landelijk Parket, is investigating Iran’s possible role.
The OM also asked the court to award Tahmasbi the €13,000 in damages he claimed. The court will give its ruling on 21 December.
Source: Openbaar Ministerie
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