He cuts off his electronic ankle monitor and disappears: suspected gang leader may have fled to Morocco

The young man is described by Dutch justice officials as one of the main perpetrators, and even the suspected leader, of the “Kempenaarbende,” a youth gang active in Lelystad. According to De Telegraaf, Matien H. is now in Morocco after evading the authorities’ monitoring.

His whereabouts have not, however, been officially confirmed. The Dutch public prosecution service merely states that the suspect cut off his electronic ankle monitor on July 8 and has been wanted ever since. The information indicating his presence in Morocco comes from sources close to the criminal underworld cited by the Dutch daily.

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The young man’s history makes his disappearance particularly embarrassing for the justice system. Matien H. had spent more than a year in pretrial detention before being authorized, in March, to await his trial at liberty under electronic monitoring. His lawyer had notably explained that he needed to be able to take the practical driving test.

Omroep Flevoland reported at the time that the public prosecution service had opposed his release. The court nevertheless agreed, on condition that the young man wear an electronic monitor, comply with a ban on contact with his co-defendants, and provide access to his financial information.

A trial despite his disappearance

Matien H. is suspected, along with several other young men, of being involved in a long series of offenses: burglaries, possession of firearms, threats, robberies, drug trafficking, and the recruitment of minors to commit crimes.

The authorities have been investigating this group from the Kempenaar neighborhood for several years. Telephone wiretaps and surveillance reportedly enabled investigators in particular to reconstruct how it operated and Matien H.’s alleged role.

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His escape should not prevent his trial. The Dutch public prosecution service has already indicated that the hearings scheduled for this autumn could continue even in the absence of the main suspect. This situation comes as judicial cooperation between Morocco and the Netherlands has been significantly strengthened, particularly to locate or prosecute fugitives who have found refuge in the kingdom.