Former gambling operator Kaatee acquitted of money laundering
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17 Nov 2024 •
Reading time: 3 minutes Marcel Kaatee, a former gambling operator in Amsterdam, was acquitted by the court last week of accusations of money laundering. The Public Prosecution Service claimed that he managed properties in the Red Light District on behalf of the notorious Willem Holleeder and that there was criminal money in these properties, possibly from the Heineken kidnapping. But the judge saw it differently: there was simply not enough evidence.
Kaatee was in the spotlight of the justice system for years. They suspected that he worked as a ‘front man’ for Holleeder and that the gambling halls and properties were actually owned by Holleeder. The Public Prosecution Service even thought that the never-found ransom money from the Heineken kidnapping had been invested in it. However, Kaatee continued to insist that he knew nothing and said that he was just doing his job.
New charge after statements from the Holleeder sisters
This was not the first time that Kaatee had appeared in court. In 2006, he was already involved in a case that ended in acquittal in 2009 due to lack of evidence. But in 2020, Astrid and Sonja Holleeder, Willem’s sisters, reopened the case. They claimed that their brother had always been the real owner of the gambling halls. This gave the judiciary a reason to charge Kaatee again.
Judge: evidence too weak to convict
During the last trial, the judiciary stuck to their story. They were convinced that Kaatee knew that the money invested in the properties was criminal. But the judge ruled that the statements of Astrid and other witnesses were too vague. Kaatee stuck to his story: he had no idea of any criminal involvement and denied that he had been guilty of money laundering.
The court emphasized that Kaatee did not need to know that part of the investments came from criminal sources. They saw no evidence that Holleeder had anything to do with the properties after 2002. According to the judge, Kaatee had been the rightful owner since 2002, without having to know exactly where the money came from.
Due to the acquittal, the court has decided that the buildings must be returned to Kaatee. The judiciary now has two weeks to decide whether they want to appeal.
Kaatee loses case against the Gaming Authority
Kaatee may have won this case, but earlier this year he lost another lawsuit. In that case he contested a decision by the Gaming Authority. He tried to get his gambling hall permits back through the court, including the one for the Redlight Casino in the Molensteeg. In 2011, the municipality of Amsterdam revoked his permits due to suspicions of criminal ties. Kaatee said that he did not know that he had to use the permit within a year, but the judge did not find that a valid excuse.
The judge also pointed to a loan that Kaatee received from businessman Jan-Dirk Paarlberg in 2003. The judiciary saw this money as a source that was connected to criminal activities. Furthermore, the judge found that failure to use the permit within one year was sufficient reason to permanently revoke the permits.