Source: De Pers

2 june 2008

The lawyer of the Turkish Kurd Hüseyin Baybasin who has been convicted to a life sentence requests the persecution of the highest official of the Dutch Ministry of Justice. Baybasins lawyer, Adèle van der Plas says on Monday she has presented accusations to the court in Amsterdam with new evidence that secretary-general Joris Demmink has been involved in child abuse in Turkey and therefore is susceptible to blackmail.

The top official would have assisted a private party in Turkey where minor children were sexually abused. In april last year, Baybasin presented claims against Demmink, but according to the public prosecutor there was insufficient reason to open a case.

Baybasin was convicted to life in Den Bosch in 2002 in case for the cour of appeal for murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking. According to Van der Plas, her client is innocent and he has become the victim of a complot between Demmink and Turkish authorities. Turkey would want to silence him because of his political power. In order to get Baybasin convicted, telephone conversations would have been manipulated. Van der Plas informs that Baybasin is an influential figure in the Kurdish community.

Also Baybasin has accused prominent political figures of being involved in drug trafficking.

An investigation of the National Crime Investigation (Rijksrecherche) has not produced anything that can be used to justify a criminal investigation against Demmink, stated the national prosecution office last year in July. Van der Plas said on Monday that she has produced new evidence material against Demmink, among others based on investigations by the former chief of the national crime investigation, Klaas Langendoen.

A Turkish investigation journalist, Burhan Kazmali, has maintained conversations with the former police chief in Istanbul, a security official and with a boy who says he has been abused by Demmink. All say they are willing to witness in an eventual courtcase and convesrations have been taped, says Van der Plas. The defense lawyer of Baybasin talked herself with among others a policeman who maintains the evidence material has been manipulated.

According to Van der Plas, the court will decide in september whether or not to open a case against Demmink.

Adele van der Plas

Joris Demmink

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