Ridouan T., the main suspect in the Marengo liquidation process, is facing difficulties in finding legal representation after the arrest of his former lawyer, Vito Shukrula, who is suspected of acting as a conduit for his client. This marks the third time one of T.’s lawyers has been arrested, exacerbating what the court chairman calls an “increasing problem.”

The Public Prosecution Service claims to have no involvement in Shukrula’s investigation and regrets the impact on T.’s defense. Despite the prosecution’s statement, T. is struggling to find a suitable lawyer, particularly one with experience in liquidation cases.

Shukrula’s arrest in April left T. without legal assistance. He is the third lawyer of T. to face arrest, following Youssef T., convicted of passing on messages in early 2023, and Inez Weski, who is also suspected of similar activities.

T. expressed his frustration, stating he has repeatedly been unsuccessful in finding new lawyers. While he has a detention lawyer and one assisting with European matters, he lacks representation in his main criminal case.

T. criticized the Amsterdam dean’s previous attempt to assign him two “Zuidas lawyers” specializing in fraud cases, emphasizing his need for someone experienced in liquidation cases. He believes the accusations against Shukrula are “ridiculous” and “for show,” lamenting that he will never find a lawyer who works so hard for him again.

During a procedural hearing, T. addressed concerns about his transportation to Schiphol for hearings, citing invasive security procedures. The Marengo trial, involving fourteen suspects, will proceed with witness hearings this week, with the next procedural hearing scheduled for September 2nd. The court hopes T. will have secured new legal representation by then.