Dutchman Convicted to Life Imprisonment for Murder Arrested in Croatia

ghent, belgium - Michel Z., a Dutch national convicted in absentia to life imprisonment for the murder of a Belgian man, was arrested in Croatia.

Arrest of Michel Z. in Croatia

The Dutchman, Michel Z., who was sentenced to life imprisonment in December for the murder of 41-year-old Belgian Raouf Ben Alita in 2018, has been apprehended in Croatia. The Ghent public prosecutor's office confirmed to Belga news agency that Michel Z. was extradited to Belgium last week after being detained on December 30 in Bajakovo, near the Serbian border.

The murder of the Belgian victim took place in Stekene, near the Dutch border west of Antwerp, with the body being discovered in Kloosterzande, Netherlands, over 15 kilometers to the north. Being involved in the drug trade, Michel Z. had a criminal history dating back to 1998, with multiple convictions related to drug offenses.

Investigations revealed that Michel Z. and his brother René had a dispute with Ben Alita over a drug deal. The Z. brothers were known for trading old Volkswagen vans with hidden compartments for drug trafficking. René Z. was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for his involvement in the murder, while four other Dutch nationals received prison terms of up to twenty years in connection with the case.