Dutch Court prolongs ex-lawyer Arno van Kessel’s pretrial detention for another 3 months (English)

Former solicitor Arno van Kessel and four co-defendants remain in pre-trial detention after having spent already six months behind bars. This was decided by judges Sikkema, Spooren and Van der Werff, during a pro forma hearing in three parts, which took place on Thursday 4 December, at the court in Leeuwarden. The date for the actual, criminal hearing has yet to be set. Interview with Rico Brouwer of Potkaars and Djamila le Pair of Pinch of Soot.

The five suspects are accused of being members of an anti-institutional – and therefore, allegedly, “terrorist” – organisation, which they all deny. The name of this organisation, its location, defined purpose and structure remain, however, unknown – even to the Public Prosecution Service, or so it seemed, on Thursday. At least three of the suspects claim to not, or hardly know the others and to have met only once, a couple of times, if at all. The impression of a case built on ‘guilty by association’, is what the audience took away, after a long day in court.

Reason for extending the five pre-trial detention periods was, according to the judges, that the “serious objections [for releasing the suspects]” formulated by the Public Prosecution Service remained unchanged. These objections imply that the evidence presented, is still considered to be of such gravity that extension of pre-trial detention is justified.

The conclusion came after almost five full hours of argumentation, by six lawyers and their five suspects. During the morning, the pre-trial detentions of Van Kessel, Ritske B. and Harm S. was evaluated. The evaluation for suspects Jan B. and John K. took place after lunch, while the chamber’s ruling concluded the day.

Since the previous pro forma hearing, on 10 September, 600 pages of ‘additional evidence’ have been added to Van Kessel's file, according to his solicitor, Mr Kamminga. They contain, however, no new information. “Added are random pictures of guns and pistols that have nothing to do with Van Kessel. The silly amateur conversation [audio fragment of conversations during a car journey, in which Van Kessel took part] was added to the file another three times, just to give the impression of research progress. Other than that, there is nothing new. No information from wiretaps, no newly added app messages, nothing. And there won't be any either,” exclaimed Kamminga.

Both the Public Prosecution Service and the judges still considered the crimes of which the suspects are accused of to be of such severity, that a prison sentence of 12 years would be likely. Releasing Van Kessel, Ritske B., Jan B., John K. and Harm S. would pose too great a risk to society, at present, judge Sikkema claimed. To the people in the public gallery, who had heard the defence’s argument after argument – times five – to the contrary, the conclusion seemed baffling.

Pinch of Soot: https://pinchofsoot.nl/
Op Potkaars: https://potkaars.nl/blog/2025/12/5/barracuda-zaak-het-om-is-de-grote-complotdenker-in-dit-hele-dossier-verslag-pro-forma-ztting-4-december-2025

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