Crown witness in the Holleeder case disappeared from the face of the earth: ‘Maybe something happened to him’ | Inland

La S. made a deal with the judiciary in the large liquidation process Passage. He declared himself incriminating and helped, among other things, to solve the murders of Kees Houtman (2005) and Thomas van der Bijl (2006). He also pointed the accusing finger at Willem Holleeder. He would have heard him say the words ‘Osdorp first’ during a meeting, with which Holleeder would have referred to the priority that the liquidation of Houtman living in Osdorp would have had at that time.

‘Puzzle’

One of the prosecutors said Monday that it is “a mystery” where La S. is located and that it is “completely unknown” why contact has failed. According to the Public Prosecution Service, there is no question of negligence. “The possibility is that something happened to him without knowing it.” The court has ordered the Public Prosecution Service to continue searching.

Lawyer Jan Peter van Schaik of Peter la S. confirmed on Monday that his client has been missing and untraceable for some time, that it does not fit the pattern and that he finds it “worrying”. He, too, faces “a riddle,” he says.

Endstra and Mieremet

The court raised the matter when it discussed the situation surrounding the witnesses yet to be heard on Monday. In the hours before, Holleeder’s defense analyzed the course of events in the run-up to the liquidation of real estate boss Willem Endstra in May 2004, one of the murders for which the court sentenced Holleeder (63) to life in prison in 2019.

In an analysis of almost three hours, lawyer Desiree de Jonge outlined the relationship between Endstra and John Mieremet, in particular, on the basis of a timeline, one of the criminals who had invested millions with the real estate man. Endstra promised him time and again to pay him back parts of his assets, but only partially failed. According to De Jonge, almost everything points in the direction of Mieremet as the client.

The Public Prosecution Service will respond on Wednesday. Then the court also wants to discuss the criminal organization of which Holleeder would have been part.

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