Youssef Taghi denied on Wednesday that he started working as a lawyer for his cousin Ridouan Taghi in 2020 with a goal other than legal assistance. The fact that it eventually became a conduit to the outside world was, according to him, because it was slowly drawn in and could no longer get out under the pressure.
Youssef Taghi describes that process as “an insidious poison”. According to him, he went from Ridouan’s lawyer to the chief suspect’s errand boy in the Marengo trial.
In late 2020 he told the Amsterdam court that one of Ridouan’s sisters had contacted him to ask if he would assist his cousin as a lawyer. When Youssef visited him in March 2021, Ridouan asked if he would respond to media stories named after him.
Although he is a criminal lawyer, Youssef did not see any problems with this, nor did he see any risks or other obstacles. “And then you become more and more important,” Youssef says. “You’ve been told you’re doing well.” Ridouan then asked him if he wanted to “join” the Marengo trial.
“I started it with the best of intentions”
«Since July or August (2021, ed) I have received some requests. Then I noticed that they wanted more from me», continues Youssef. “I couldn’t get out of it then. But I started it with the best of intentions. I’m not tired of life.”
According to the prosecutor, Youssef was an active member of Ridouan’s criminal organization, but is downplaying his role. He admits he was wrong, but says he was nothing more than a delivery boy.
According to the judiciary, the intercepted messages indicate that Ridouan was engaged in escape plans, that he continued to trade in cocaine and that there may have been bribes to magistrates in Morocco. In that country, Ridouan’s brothers are imprisoned for involvement in the wrongful murder of a judge’s son.
Youssef says he has never read incoming messages from third parties. He saw Ridouan’s messages, but didn’t forward them all. “I’ve never put anyone in danger.”
The OM’s view on all of this will be discussed on Friday. Then the judiciary also arrives with the sentence. The sentence will come on January 23.
