Legal • 19:23 • Modified at 19:23
Lawyers do not want to assist Taghi, 'extremely unattractive job'
Author : BNR Web Editors
Ridouan Taghi has already missed out six times in an attempt to get a new lawyer. He said this today during a new hearing in the Marengo trial. According to criminal lawyer Christian Flokstra, it is 'extremely unattractive' for lawyers to take on this job. 'The question is how to proceed in such a trial, where the interests are so enormous.'

'There are no lawyers who are eager to defend my legal assistance', said Taghi, slumped in his white prison uniform from the Extra Secure Institution (EBI) in Vught. A total of six law firms have rejected his request for assistance. One of those approached is the dean of the Amsterdam Bar Association, who was previously involved in the case. Taghi will probably not have contacted law firms himself. 'All numbers he has to call will be screened', Flokstra explains. There will probably be people in his environment who will contact the firms.

According to BNR reporter Martijn de Rijk, who follows the Marengo trial, Taghi himself assumes that the Public Prosecution Service is trying to destroy him. 'He also points an accusing finger at the General Intelligence and Security Service'.

Previous Attorneys
Several lawyers have already been removed from the case, including his cousin Youssef, who is suspected of having passed on confidential information. In addition, Inez Weski is currently still on trial and lawyer Vito Shukrula was also recently removed from the case after accusations. Finally, a team has also left voluntarily.

Unique situation
It is a unique situation that Taghi cannot find a lawyer. 'The whole issue surrounding Taghi and his lawyers is completely unique. This is a situation that we have never seen before,' says the criminal lawyer.

According to him, it is 'extremely unattractive' for a lawyer to take on this job: 'It takes up your entire practice, which means you have to drop other cases for the time being. In addition, you will have little time, so in that sense it is not very attractive either', Flokstra explains. The light of the police, the Public Prosecution Service, the prison service and possibly the AIVD will also shine on you, the criminal lawyer continues.

Assign
The Legal Aid Board can assign a lawyer to a suspect by providing funded legal aid. In addition, the dean has the power to appoint lawyers under Article 13 of the Dutch Lawyers Act for cases in which someone is unable to obtain a lawyer. According to criminal lawyer Flokstra, this power is not tailored to the current situation. 'I don't think you can force a lawyer to take on this case'.