The decision not to release Singh earlier was taken during a so-called parole hearing – a hearing on an early release.
The Dutchman emigrated to the US and has been detained since 1984. He was sentenced to 56 years in prison for ordering the murder of his wife and daughter. The perpetrators of the murder were never caught.
Singh and his family deny any involvement. Singh’s lawyer said he was convicted on the basis of a shaky statement by one witness. That witness was in prison at the time of the statement and has also withdrawn it. This was apparent from a found letter in which the witness wrote that he had made up the statement.
Shortly after the letter was found, the witness died. Yet the same statement was used at the rehearing, while the witness could not be questioned again. As a result, the parole hearing with the case being re-evaluated to nothing.
The lawyer hopes that Singh can be brought to the Netherlands
According to Imamkhan, it is now being examined whether Singh, who is in poor health, can be transferred to the Netherlands in another way. But support from the Netherlands is limited. The fact that the transfer has not yet taken place is, according to the lawyer, the result of “political unwillingness”.
Imamkhan believes that the cabinet should start a so-called WOTS procedure. Singh can be brought to the Netherlands through that law. But that is sensitive, says the lawyer. According to her, Minister Franc Weerwind (Legal Protection) refuses to bring Singh to the Netherlands, because he fears that many prisoners will have to be brought back from abroad.
