Magnate ‘clear of money laundering allegations’

17 June 2004

AMSTERDAM — Arrested real estate magnate Jan-Dirk P. — who has been detained in connection with investigations into the murder of property tycoon Willem Endstra — is not suspected of money laundering, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Reliable sources claim that P. was arrested several days ago in Amsterdam, but he is not suspected of Endstra’s murder. Instead, P. reportedly came under suspicion in relation to various financial transactions involving Endstra.

But lawyer Gabriël Meijers refused to confirm the arrest of his client P. and the Amsterdam public prosecution office has also refused to comment, news agency ANP reported.

The 51-year-old Endstra was shot and killed in Amsterdam on 17 May. Despite long-held suspicions, the Amsterdam Court had indicated several days earlier that it was unlikely he would be convicted on money laundering charges.

Endstra is suspected of being the “banker of the underworld”, representing an important link with the Dutch underworld and the real estate industry. Shortly before his death, Endstra made a rare appearance on television to deny any wrongdoing.

P. is the chief executive of the Merwede Group, which controls a EUR 2.75 billion real estate portfolio. But Meijers denied on Thursday that there were any suspicions levelled against the Merwede Group.

The lawyer refused to comment on the nature of accusations directed against his client. “But my assessment is that there is a misunderstanding that will be resolved in the short-term,” Meijers said.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Dutch news