Frenkie P., the life-sentenced leader of the Gang of Venlo, will have to get used to a new living and housing environment after spending years in Sittard prison. The 47-year-old Venlo man has been transferred from the former Geerhorst to the prison in Arnhem. This was confirmed by his lawyer Sjanneke de Crom.
Frenkie P. ended up in jail in the spring of 1994. He has since been detained in Roermond and Vught, among other places. However, he spent most of his detention, which has now lasted 26 years, in Sittard.
P. was already temporarily transferred to the penitentiary in Alphen aan den Rijn more than three weeks ago. There he had to spend fourteen days in solitary confinement because he had coughed in the face of two people in the prison in Sittard. Afterwards, he allegedly scolded security guards who called him on his behavior. According to P., the misconduct for which he was punished and transferred would have been a (corona) joke that got out of hand.
His lawyer does not know whether Frenkie P. can permanently forget about a return to Sittard, where he had become completely accustomed to his surroundings and daily rhythm due to the prolonged stay. For privacy reasons, the Justice Department does not want to comment on the case.
Frenkie P. is expected to make his first public appearance in a long time on Aug. 18. He has filed summary proceedings against the State. The case was to have been heard in the court in The Hague on April 1. Because of the corona crisis, the lawsuit did not go forward then. Frenkie P. has been granted permission to attend that lawsuit. Recent developments have not changed that, according to attorney De Crom.
Last year, the Advisory Committee on Life Imprisonment ruled that P. was not yet ready for a gradual return to society. Through the summary proceedings, he is still trying to find a way not to have to stay in prison until his death. He wants a judge's opinion on the alleged shortcomings of the reassessment system.
