BREDA — The head of Veterinary Service Olaf de Haseth, official and biologist Eric Newton, Parke Tropikal-chairman Rob Vermeulen, and co-suspect Jan de Nijs were called by lawyer Gerard Spong as witness for his client Joost Pronk in the bird smuggling case. This occurred during the directional session before the Court of Breda.
The examining magistrate determined that the testimonies could probably be taken via video conference. The witnesses will not be called before mid January. The Public Prosecutor expects to have completed the investigation around Christmas. This will be followed by a definite report and thereafter the court will meet in January for a new session. "This is not a case which we will deal with quickly," said the Chairman of the court this afternoon.
From the provisional indictment, it appears that Parke Tropikal’s committee-member Joost Pronk and manager Jan de Nijs are considered as main suspects. They are suspected of establishing a criminal organization. Suspect Jaime Felix, who was released for the time being, was supposedly only a participant of that organization. The three had been caught trading endangered bird species. It not only concerned indigo-flinches, as previously reported, but also black-winged tanagers, blue cardinals, and redbreast cardinals. They are suspected of forgery as well.
In addition, Pronk had also supposedly threatened Parke Tropikal-chairman Rob Vermeulen. He supposedly has said that for 500 guilders he would find a Columbian assassin. The Public Prosecutor considers this as a preparation of a criminal act. Pronk must therefore give account of himself.
That is exactly the reason why Spong calls for Rob Vermeulen. "I want to know whether he took those threats seriously or not", said the well-known criminal lawyer. Pronk told this newspaper earlier that the threat was actually an empty remark in an e-mail. "When I’m angry with my personnel, I will also often shout "I will find a Columbian assassin for you", according to the car dealer.
According to Spong, Vermeulen should be cross-examined on the e-mails that he had gone through. "The man searched in e-mails from De Nijs, extracted information, and brought such in public. What’s make him think he is allowed to pry into other peoples papers? That is at least a violation of privacy. A lot depends on that for my client. I wonder if this is simply allowed."
Meanwhile, Spong raised a corner of the veil on how he was going to defend Pronk. Eric Newton had advised Pronk that the birds he had traded were not endangered species. "Newton is an authoritative expert in that field", said Spong. Olaf de Haseth would also be seriously cross-examined by the lawyer, amongst others, on blank health statements, which supposedly had been submitted. This would imply committing forgery.
De Nijs’ lawyer also wants to hear De Haseth, Newton, and Vermeulen. The witnesses appearing on behalf of Jaime Felix will be announced later. His permanent lawyer was replaced today. New witnesses could still be called during the session in January.
Felix was released this afternoon. Even though he remains a suspect, the judges determined that it was not necessary to detain him any longer. He was held in preventive custody for 41 days. His lawyer, Mr. Koppelaar, contended that Felix had a hard time in custody, in particular as he cares for his very old parents. They supposedly had ended up in isolation due to his apprehension.
Extra-photographer Stanley Ignacio was not included in the session this afternoon. "His summons is not ready yet, but he is certainly still a suspect", says spokeswoman Mischa Tol of the Functional Office of the Public Prosecutor upon being asked. Two other traders from the Netherlands are also considered suspects in the case besides Pronk, De Nijs, Felix, and Ignacio. Tol was not able to comment any further on the two. The trade in birds had apparently started last year. The case got moving when De Nijs was apprehended at Schiphol last July. He had transported 117 birds of which 30 had died upon arrival.
Spong booked a slight success this afternoon. He pointed out that the indictments were too unclear. "They include too many facts. For example, I cannot determine the point on forgery against which my client must defend himself. Moreover, the Public Prosecutor states that he had supposedly made preparations to take Vermeulen’s and/or somebody else’s life. Are we to search the entire island of Curaçao for this person?" The court agreed with him and declared those points of the indictment as invalid. For that matter, the Public Prosecutor could straighten that out at a later stage.
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