Suspect in Hajar’s death remanded for 90 days

Prosecutors say the 23-year-old is suspected of murder or manslaughter in Hajar’s death, as well as disposing of her body. He is also suspected of attempted murder or manslaughter of a man and of threatening a woman in Koggenland, north of Amsterdam. Dutch news agency ANP reported that the man was his foster father.

Hajar, 29, had been missing since 4 October. Her body was found on 16 October in a suitcase in the water at Amsteldijk in Amsterdam. The suspect was arrested four days later, according to local broadcaster AT5.

The Public Prosecution Service said investigators initially treated the man as a witness. Hajar had been seen with him on the morning of 4 October, but two witnesses reported seeing her later, including with another man. Subsequent inquiries suggested the witnesses had either seen a different woman or that the encounter had taken place at another time, prosecutors said.

After interviewing the man, investigators seized devices including a phone. Examination of the phone led them to suspect him, the prosecution service said. He was arrested after police received a report of a violent incident at a home in Koggenland.

AT5 reported that an initial procedural hearing is due within the 90-day detention period.