Dutch Spy Scandal Deepens: Prime Minister Testifies in Morocco Espionage Case

The case came to light in October 2023 with the arrest of the suspect at Schiphol airport, as he was about to board a flight to Morocco in possession of numerous data media. Since then, Ab el M. has always denied the accusations, claiming to have "shared no state secrets with anyone", but has remained mostly silent due to his former confidentiality obligations.

The court wished to hear Dick Schoof, former head of the NCTV, and his successor, Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg, to obtain the "internal perspective of the organization" on the suspect’s role. Their testimonies were intended to clarify his level of access to confidential information and the way state secrets are managed within the agency.

The trial on the merits is scheduled for February 2026, but a procedural point remains pending. The defense demands that four Moroccan intelligence agents be heard, a request that the prosecution considers "unnecessary". "Are we simply putting on a show here?" protested the defense lawyer, Bart Nooitgedagt. The court must rule on this issue next week.