The evidence against Van der Kooi was based on a number of different things. First, there is a video recording from a surveillance camera of a half hour before the arson. In this recording is a man on a bicycle. This man wore a cap with earflaps (mid-summer) and furthermore had the back of his bicycle tied a jerry can or bottle. This man was cycling along a few times. On the basis of various statements, the court concluded that this man Ben van der Kooi was.
Further evidence came from an observation unit of the police. Who saw Van der Kooi bikes on the same kind of bike was like to see the camera images. Furthermore, this same unit saw Van der Kooi, along with a known, threw a bag of clothes in a container. After the police had pulled the bag out of the container were found to be the clothes, who carried the man to the camera images. Moreover, smoking the clothes to gasoline. Other evidence came from the paint, which slogans on the mosque were sprayed by the arsonist. This paint has been compared with traces of paint on the coat thrown away by Ben van der Kooi and continue with traces of paint from his cellar. The traces of paint were found to have strong similarities. Also the handwriting of the slogans on the mosque match the handwriting of Van der Kooi.
Ben van der Kooi denies the man on the bike, while there is sufficient evidence to show that he is the man well, for the court reason to conclude that Van der Kooi with trying to conceal the lie that he is the arsonist. All this evidence led to a sentence of thirty months in prison.
This would seem to be off the stocking. Door and not talk to 2007. But is that true? There is in the course of this case that one and another become clear about the ideas and commitment of the political allies of Ben van der Kooi. A brief overview.
Pim Fortuyn's Friends
Pim Fortuyn Friends is a Rotterdam group Fortuyn sympathizers. The group was formed during the election campaign of Liveable Rotterdam 2002. Friends did when many outreach for Liveable Rotterdam: pasting posters, distributing leaflets and the like.
After the murder of Fortuyn group Friends of Pim Fortuyn persisted. Initially, the main activity was focused on the commemoration of Fortuyn: friends created a statue of Pim Fortuyn in Rotterdam. Furthermore, they were closely involved in the annual commemoration Fortuyn and carried several actions against Volkert van der Graaf, the murderer of Fortuyn. Besides these activities keep several members are to this day engaged in political action. A striking feature of their actions is that they besides supporting various Fortuynist parties and splinters no problem also (a lot) radical groups to help. Outstanding figures of the Friends of Pim Fortuyn, as Rinus van den Heerik and Jennifer Vetter appeared regularly at extreme right actions, often together with Ben van der Kooi. In addition, Ben van der Kooi himself a loyal campaigner for Friends of Pim Fortuyn. In all kinds of actions of this club was also Van der Kooi present.
That these good ties go beyond agreement on political ideas emerged during the investigation into the arson. During his captivity called Van der Kooi with several people from the Friends group. This calls appeared determined not innocent. When Van der Kooi learned that a lady from the environment Fortuynist a very incriminating statement was made against him (#1) was Rinus van den Heerik called by Van der Kooi. Prompt Van den Heerik made a statement to the magistrate off, which he says that he was present at the conversation between the lady and Van der Kooi. He stated that about Van der Kooi said nothing about the arson and that he had spoken to the arsonist deserves a statue. (watch movie: Ben van der Kooi and Rinus van den Heerik campaigning)
Another prominent Fortuyn trailer, Wouter Zuidema (part of Liveable Rotterdam councilor), also went to the police. He stated that he Van der Kooi had recognized the camera images, when they were on television. He further stated that he recognized the handwriting on the mosque as that of Van der Kooi. As proof, he produced a form, Van der Kooi had ever completed. After Van der Kooi had come back, he called Jennifer Vetter and aired his heart about. Zuidema then called and threatened by Mary Mountain Ride, a lady from the circle of the Friends of Pim Fortuyn. Zuidema stepped - after this threat – again to the police to withdraw his statement again, but that turned out not to be.
During the trial, Van der Kooi was a strong delegation of the Friends of Pim Fortuyn present to Ben van der Kooi noisy to stabbing a hearten.
Nationale Alliantie
Another group of friends Ben van der Kooi supported the party during his process of the National Alliance (NA). This party played a prominent role over around arson. For starters, there is the period immediately after the arson. Van der Kooi was trying to get rid of evidence that could be used against him. A person who thereby helped him (by gasoline smelly clothes Van der Kooi throw away) was two days earlier with Van der Kooi attended an NA meeting in Enkhuizen. Were then – after the arrest of Van der Kooi – several NA members questioned by the police about the arson. Party chairman Jan Teijn here played a prominent role in. Van der Kooi had indicated to the police at the time to have been the home arson at Teijn. Teijn however stated at the time of the arson at another friend to have been. He assured that at the time there was no one at his home. With that he messed up not only the alibi of Van der Kooi, but also brought himself into trouble. Since the denied entered friend Teijn in all keys that Teijn that night had been with him. Further stated that friend that he refused Teijn to help a false statement to the police and called him a "cowardly dog". During the investigation also be tapped telephone conversations where Teijn participating. During one of these conversations Teijn warned his party not to talk about the arson, because the conversation would be overheard possible.
After the arrest of Van der Kooi was AFTER initially afraid of the own skin. It was publicly distancing of arson and Van der Kooi was put off as someone who was not a party member. Then, over time, Van der Kooi only for the fire on seemed to start to rotate, this changed and the party began to actively support him. Several pleas were made to release him. In addition, the party leadership announced to will put the end of the process, the names and home addresses of all witnesses against Van der Kooi Internet, a thinly veiled threat.
Also in the process was a hefty delegation of the NA present. Initially it was assumed that Van der Kooi be spoken freely, but after he was convicted of the party continued to support him:
"Although Ben to 30 months in prison has been sentenced, we continue to believe in his innocence. There are no hard evidence against him, only soft evidence in the form of statements that are based on speculation. We regret that Ben is sentenced, but it really is not surprising. Ben is a victim of the witch hunt that the Dutch state performs nationally dissenters. Are used by the Dutch state as a scapegoat. But anything is possible in a state where even judges and prosecutors appear to have pedophile tendencies. "
To Ask
Thus, the facts are well put on and terraced, but there still remain some questions about. Firstly, the position of Liveable Rotterdam. For Party Ben van der Kooi always been very active. The same applies to people like Van den Heerik, Cousin s Ride Mountain. In view of the remarkable activity of these persons, you would expect that there would take action on LR. But that is not the case so far.
The National Alliance. The party is by Ben van der Kooi, but also by the continued support for him, to connect to the mosque fire. That fits in the tradition of previous convictions of several party members and the very rough and probably criminal messages that prominent party regular place on the Internet. The sum that this provides sufficient reason would be to look good or the NA should not be banned, like its predecessor the CP'86.
And then a few more riddles, such as:
I If the statement of the lady's right Fortuynist, who was then the "man" that was on the lookout?
II Why did NA Chairman Jan Teijn off a false alibi, or do: Where he was on that evening?
III Given the predilection of Ben van der Kooi for mosque fires the question of whether this was his first arson.
Preliminary Ben van der Kooi will at least have to watch out for a few months to other hobbies.
#1 The lady in question was Ben van der Kooi encountered at a meeting of Hilbrand Nawijn. Later she explained to the police that Van der Kooi had told her there to be the perpetrator of the arson. Furthermore, he would have told her too "male" to have put on the lookout. In the further course of the investigation dared this witness, fear of reprisals, to repeat her statement not in court.
