Gang member, Christopher Hughes, has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 25 years for his involvement in the murder of Martin Kok. 

Hughes was with the now deceased when he was shot outside the Boccaccio Club in Holland on the 8th of December 2016. Evidence was led that Hughes had alerted others of Kok’s whereabouts and notified others when he left the club. A previous attempt was made earlier that day after Hughes let his colleagues know that Kok was leaving the Citizen M hotel in Amsterdam. 

Martin Kok was a renowned journalist and crime writer in the Netherlands. He was known for publishing details about criminals and organised crime. 

Procurator Fiscal, Laura Buchan stated: “Christopher Hughes was a key member of an organised crime gang for many years, facilitating criminal behaviour which culminated in the brutal murder of Martin Kok. The conviction of Hughes was truly a collaborative and international effort, and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) worked closely with colleagues in both Scotland and Holland to ensure Hughes answered for his actions. It is thanks to this great work with international justice colleagues that we were able to prosecute Hughes.”

It was led in evidence that Hughes was involved in an organised crime group with international reach. After he was found guilty, detective chief superintendent Stuart Houston described him as a ‘dangerous individual’.