Vito Shukrula, the former lawyer of Marengo main suspect Ridouan Taghi, wants the lawsuit against him to start directly on the merits. “Every day that this case drags on longer, it increases the damage that our client wrongfully suffers,” his lawyers say.
Shukrula is suspected of passing criminal messages from his then-client Taghi to the outside world. On June 12, the court decided that Shukrula no longer needs to remain in custody for this.
The Public Prosecution Service (OM) announced after the release that it was looking forward to a case management hearing. At this hearing, Shukrula’s lawyers, Nico Meijering and Bas van Faassen, can express investigation wishes. They say they were never informed of this.
In a press release sent on Friday, they say they have no need for this case management hearing and that the case against Shukrula can be dealt with directly on the merits as far as they are concerned. The defense has also informed the Public Prosecution Service of this. “Every day that this case drags on longer, it increases the damage that the client, and his environment, wrongfully suffer. He takes this opportunity to express his gratitude for the many expressions of support that followed his release.”
The 36-year-old Shukrula was arrested in April after a visit to Taghi in the extra secure institution (ebi) in Vught. The criminal investigation into the lawyer began last December based on information from the AIVD, the Public Prosecution Service reported after the arrest.
Shukrula is the third lawyer of Taghi to be arrested. At the beginning of 2023, Taghi’s nephew and lawyer Youssef Taghi was convicted of passing on messages. Inez Weski, also a former lawyer of Taghi, is also suspected of this. The criminal case against her is still under consideration.