District Court: Satudarah Motorcycle Club banned in the Netherlands
Yesterday, on Monday 18 June 2018, the district court of the Hague decided to ban the Satudarah Motorcycle Club, which includes all chapters and ‘support clubs’ Supportcrew 999 and Satudarah. The ban orders the immediately ending of all activities of the Dutch motorcycle club, in accordance with the request of the Dutch National Prosecutor’s Service (DPPS). Unlike the DPPS, the district court, however, is not convinced that support club Yellow Snakes MC is part of the Satudarah MC. Therefore the ban does not apply to Yellow Snakes MC.
Request for a civil ban
On 29 September 2017, the National Office of the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (DPPS) requested the district court of the Hague to ban the Satudarah Motorcycle Club (Satudarah MC) in the Netherlands. According to the request of the DPPS (high-ranking) members of the Satudarah MC are structurally subject of criminal investigations and have caused severe disturbances of the public order in the context of their club.
Yesterday, the district court of the Hague followed this request and banned Satudarah MC in the Netherlands. In its judgment, the court ordered a definitive end to all activities by the Satudarah MC in the Netherlands. Criminal behavior is accepted in the Satudarah MC, as demonstrated by the club’s internal communication about members in detention and the financial assistance to these members. Board members of the Satudarah MC order other members to commit criminal acts, using the club’s strict hierarchy.
Another example stressed by the court is the rewarding of acts of aggression by members with the so-called ‘1%-patch’. The Satudarah MC further imposes a code of silence on its members and intimidates witnesses. Members of the Satudarah MC are frequently victim of violence and/or extortion by fellow club members, particularly when they (are forced to) resign from the club in ‘bad standing’. Moreover, the Satudarah MC is engaged in an ongoing turf war with other outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMGs), including the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, which endangers innocent bystanders.
The DPPS is satisfied with the judgment.
Earlier requests
In an earlier stage the DPPS has requested the district court of Utrecht to ban the Bandidos MC. The district court decided to ban the Bandidos MC. The Bandidos MC has since appealed the decision.
In May this year the DPPS requested the district court of Utrecht to ban the Hells Angels MC.