H2: Introduction to the Case
The Amsterdam Court of Appeal made a significant decision regarding Naufal Fassih, a leader of the Mocro mafia, by reducing his life imprisonment sentence to 25 years. This ruling came after the court acquitted him of direct participation in the murder of Iranian dissident Ali Motamed, who was shot in front of his house in Almere, Netherlands, in December 2015.
H2: Background of the Case
Despite the acquittal, the court maintained its conviction against Fassih for attempting to kill another person in November 2015 in the city of Damen. The Public Ministry proved that Fassih, 44, was the mastermind behind the murder attempt, using encrypted instructions sent through applications with pseudonyms like "Buick".
H3: Defense Argument
The defense argued that the evidence based on email addresses was insufficient to condemn Fassih. However, the court concluded that Fassih’s use of close associates to transfer sensitive information indicated his involvement in the crime.
H3: Murder of the Iranian Dissident
Regarding the murder of Ali Motamed, the court ruled that Fassih did not participate in the planning or direct execution of the crime. Nevertheless, it condemned him for attempted incitement and involvement in the murder by providing information related to the operation. The Public Ministry relied on encrypted messages found on the phone of another defendant, Randall D., which showed that Fassih used pseudonyms like "Fiese" and "Groot Hooft" to issue a liquidation order against Ali Motamed for 130,000 euros.
H2: Commutation of the Penalty
The court explained that the reduction of Fassih’s penalty resulted from a combination of several decisions issued against him, including the unjustified delay in the processing of the case. Additionally, the court considered the involvement of foreign actors, such as Hezbollah, in recruiting local gang members to carry out murder operations against Iranian opponents residing in the country.
H3: Involvement in Crimes in Spain
According to various sources, Fassih is also involved in crimes perpetrated in Spain, which may be connected to the attempt to kill Alejo Vidal Quadras, a crime allegedly ordered by the Ayatolás regime.