The Piranha court case (Dutch: Piranhazaak) is a trial of an Islamist terror group — 'Piranha group' — which was a direct successor to the 2002-2004 Hofstadgroup.
Piranha case On December 1, 2006, the District Court of Rotterdam, sitting in 'de Bunker' in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, convicted Samir Azzouz of preparing a terrorist attack and sentenced him to 8 years in prison. Nouriddin El Fahtni and Mohammed Chentouf were sentenced to 4 years in prison, Soumaya Sahla was sentenced to 3 years in prison and Brahim Harhour was sentenced to 3 months in prison. The Court ruled that the six individuals had not formed a terrorist organization.
The defendants lodged appeal with the Court of Appeal in The Hague.
On 2 October 2008 the Court of Appeal sentenced all suspects to higher sentences than those given by the District Court of Rotterdam: Samir Azzouz got 9 years in prison, Nouriddin El Fahtni got 8 years, Mohammed Chentouf got 6 years and Soumaya Sahla was sentenced to 4 years in prison.
Samir Azzouz was released on 6 September 2013. (On 31 August 2022 he — and others and — was convicted again for helping Dutch IS women to escape from camps in Syria. )
Piranha II case After the witnesses Lahbib B. and his wife Hanan S. had testified against the defendants in the Piranha case, they were prosecuted themselves. They were charged with participating in a terrorist organization, the preparation of attacks and the possession of several firearms. The District Court of Rotterdam sentenced them to 3 years in prison. The Court of Appeal in The Hague reduced these sentences to 104 days (Lahbib B.) and 74 days (Hanan S.).
Court rulings (Piranah case) Samir Azzouz 01–12–2006 10-600052-05 en 10–600100–06 8 years 22–07–2009 decision about suspension of pre-trial detention 02–10–2008 GHSGR 9 years 28–08–2013 99/000089-44 parole (Samir Azzouz was released on 6 September 2013.) Mohammed Chentouf 01–12–2006 10-600108-05 en 10–600101–06 4 years 02–10–2008 22–007384–06 6;6 years Nouriddin El Fahtni 01–12–2006 10-600134-05 en 10–600102–06 4 years 02–10–2008 22–007349–06 8 years 02-10-2008 10-000354-04 (22-000553-07) (8 years) after the case had been split-up in (see sub Hofstad Network > Court rulings) 15-11-2011 10-000354-04 (08/04272) 7;4 years [Suspect] 01–12–2006 10-600109-05 en 10–600103–06 acquitted 02–10–2008 22–007350–06 3 months Brahim Harhour 01–12–2006 10-600122-05 en 10–600104–06 3 months Soumaya Sahla 01–12–2006 10–600023–06, 10-600093-06 en 10-600046-05 (TUL) 3 years 02–10–2008 22–007351–06 4 years 15–11–2011 08/04418 21–09–2012 23–005318–11 Rejection of the Advocate General's claim to declare the Public Prosecution Service inadmissible in the criminal proceedings. 21–12–2012 23–005318–11 Decision on requests to hear employees of the AIVD as witnesses 25–03–2014 23–005318–11 3 years 16–02–2016 14/02720
Court rulings (Piranah II case) Lahbib B. 25–03–2008 10–600111–05 3 years 11–11–2009 22–001605–08 104 days 06–12–2011 10/01721 25–03–2014 23–005454–11 104 days This ruling mentions the incorrect case-number (in Dutch: parketnummer) 10-600112-05 Hanan S. 25–03–2008 10–600112–05 3 years 11–11–2009 22–001599–08 74 days 06–12–2011 10/01718 25–03–2014 23–005455–11 74 days
See also Hofstad Network
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