He Cuts Off His Electronic Ankle Bracelet and Disappears: Alleged Gang Leader Is Said to Have Fled to Morocco
The main suspect in a gang that allegedly spread fear in Lelystad, in the Netherlands, cannot be found. Matien H., 22, cut off his electronic ankle bracelet at the beginning of July. Sources from criminal circles claim that he has since gone to Morocco.
The young man is presented by the Dutch justice system as one of the main figures, and even the alleged leader, of the “Kempenaarbende,” a group of young people active in Lelystad. According to De Telegraaf, Matien H. is now in Morocco after evading the authorities’ supervision.
His whereabouts have not, however, been officially confirmed. The Dutch public prosecution service only states that the suspect cut off his electronic ankle bracelet on 8 July and has been wanted ever since. Information indicating that he is in Morocco comes from sources close to criminal circles cited by the Dutch daily.
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The young man’s history makes his disappearance particularly embarrassing for the justice system. Matien H. had spent more than a year in pretrial detention before being authorized, in March, to await his trial at liberty under electronic monitoring. His lawyer had notably explained that he needed to be able to take the practical driving test.
Omroep Flevoland reported at the time that the public prosecution service had opposed his release. The court nevertheless approved it, on condition that the young man wear an electronic ankle bracelet, comply with a no-contact order concerning his co-defendants and provide access to his financial information.
A Trial Despite His Disappearance
Matien H. is suspected, along with several other young people, of being involved in a long series of offenses: burglaries, possession of firearms, threats, robberies, drug trafficking and the recruitment of minors to commit crimes.
The authorities have been investigating this group from the Kempenaar neighborhood for several years. Telephone taps and surveillance allegedly enabled investigators in particular to reconstruct how it operated and Matien H.’s presumed role.
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His escape should not prevent his trial. The Dutch public prosecution service has already indicated that the hearings scheduled for this autumn could continue even in the absence of the main suspect. This comes as judicial cooperation between Morocco and the Netherlands has been significantly strengthened, particularly to locate or prosecute fugitives who have found refuge in the kingdom.