RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: Rabat recalled two of its diplomats after the Dutch Foreign Ministry protested against reported attempts by the Moroccan secret service to recruit spies in the Netherlands. The ministry described the alleged espionage as "a dirty business". The diplomats were recalled several months ago, but the incident was not made known until this week when reports of the incident surfaced in the media.
Earlier this week, the Dutch current affairs programme NOVA reported that former police sergeant Ré Lemhaouli passed on confidential police information to the Moroccan secret service. A number of Dutch citizens of Moroccan origin later told the media that the Moroccan secret service had attempted to recruit them. The Dutch parliament will hold an emergency debate on the issue next week.
The sergeant was dismissed from the police force this summer for serious dereliction of duty following an internal investigation. After the news of the alleged spying appeared in the media, the Justice Ministry announced that it would not prosecute the police officer because there was insufficient evidence.
Political pressure
Two days later the Justice Ministry said it had changed its mind because of the publicity in the media and political pressure from The Hague. The Dutch National Department of Criminal Investigation will investigate reports that Mr Lemhaouli passed on confidential police information. And today the cabinet said Mr Lemhaouli could lose his Dutch citizenship. Moroccan Espionage Affair Escalates >>> By Frank Scimone | September 18, 2008
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