Illustrative photo / Ph. ANP ‹ › On Wednesday, Dutch prosecutors sought a twelve-year prison sentence for Abderrahim El M., a former official at the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV). Originally from Morocco, he is on trial for espionage, accused by the Netherlands of working on behalf of Moroccan intelligence. El M., who joined the NCTV in 2005, has firmly denied the charges, describing the case as a «misunderstanding». His lawyer said he had been «threatened by an individual who urged him to remain silent». Prosecutors, however, allege that he transmitted sensitive information to Moroccan authorities and illegally took home nearly a thousand confidential documents. Quoted by Dutch media, the prosecutor described the acts as unprecedented, warning that they «undermine the trust» of foreign partners in the Dutch security services. During his career, the 66-year-old held key positions in investigations related to counterterrorism, jihadist networks, Salafism, and threats to national security. Abderrahim El M. was arrested in October 2023 at Schiphol Airport, shortly before boarding a flight to Morocco. A search of his luggage reportedly uncovered several hundred confidential documents, including 65 classified as state secrets.
