Today marks the start of the trial against former lawyer Inez Weski at the court in Rotterdam. The Public Prosecution Service accuses her of transmitting criminal messages to Ridouan Taghi in prison.
Today’s session is preparatory, allowing the prosecution to elaborate on the charges and Weski’s lawyers to request further investigations. Weski herself, aged 69, will not be present, stating it is too burdensome.
She recently described the allegations as “almost indescribable” and a torment. Her legal troubles began in September 2022 during a trial against a nephew of Taghi, Youssef T., who was also accused of relaying messages to and from Taghi.
Intercepted family messages hinted at another conduit, implicating Weski, who had been representing Taghi since 2019 in the Marengo trial. After finishing her defense in that case, Weski was arrested on charges of participating in Taghi’s criminal organization by passing messages to his sons.
The case sent shockwaves through the legal community, with colleagues questioning the allegations’ validity. Weski was detained for over a month, initially at a secret location, and alleges the prosecution subtly offered her a deal to become a crown witness.
She wrote a book claiming her defense is hampered by client confidentiality. The trial’s delay, nearly two years post-arrest, is attributed to Weski’s initiated legal procedures concerning seized documents, which she argues fall under professional confidentiality.
Though the trial begins, her lawyers state they have little to present due to ongoing procedures. Weski recently changed her legal representation to Geert-Jan and Carry Knoops.
The trial concludes her 45-year legal career, and she remains respected and deemed integral within her field. The defense in 2022 speculated that she may have succumbed to pressure from Taghi.
Source: NOS