Man armed with gun tried to force Mark van Bommel into giving him professional playing contract at Royal Antwerp
An attack on Royal Antwerp manager Mark van Bommel in October was an attempt to extort a professional playing contract, a Belgian court has heard.
The former Bayern Munich, Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder was attacked in a car park outside of his apartment in Belgium, and the perpetrator has now been handed a five-year jail sentence.
Due to the nature of the attack while Van Bommel was driving his Porsche Panamera and wearing an expensive watch, it was initially reported as a car-jacking, but audio recordings from the defendant’s phone suggest otherwise.
Dutch outlet Via AD.nl reports the court heard recordings translated from Arabic from Mohamet JH’s phone which said: “Mister Mark, your family’s life depends on it. Tomorrow, you take the player with you.
“You let him become a pro player. You don't go to the police or we will kill you and your family. We know where you live and where your family lives.”
Van Bommel’s lawyer claimed the individual planned to play the audio to the former Netherlands international, but after approaching him with a torch and gun, Van Bommel managed to reverse and escape.
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Mohamed JH, 25, fled the scene and was later arrested in Kapellen and has been in custody ever since.
Van Bommel was not present at the hearing, but his lawyer is quoted as saying: “The police found photos, sound recordings and texts from Google Translate that indicate extortion.
“That evening, the suspect wanted to blackmail Mark van Bommel with his gun to get him to sign a professional contract with Antwerp. This man knew very well what he was doing. He had prepared his extortion thoroughly."
It was also revealed that Mohamed JH had already taken a selfie with his victim in July that year, and had even sent emails to Antwerp, Gent and Zulte Waregem advertising himself as a potential signing.
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Revealing that the suspect tracked Van Bommel’s movements with a device attached to his car, the prosecuting lawyer added: “The extortion for a professional contract seems like a ridiculous plan, but we shouldn't laugh about it.
“Mr Van Bommel has never experienced such an invasion of his private life before. Who knows where he escaped?
“Since the facts, he no longer dares to enter his apartment and is still staying in a hotel. I therefore claim moral damages of €5,000.00.”
The defence focussed on Mohamed JH’s age, claiming he was 17 and could not be trialled in an adult court, but those arguments were turned down after bone and dental scans.
His lawyer has since asked for an acquittal, with a ruling to take place on June 13.
Van Bommel, meanwhile, continues to manage Antwerp, and is on course to guide the side to a first Belgian title since 1957.