Robert Beijer reflects on the compartmentalized life of Bouhouche, who seemed to have two or three separate lives. Despite the claim of some acquaintances that they knew Bouhouche well, Beijer believes otherwise. He admits wondering about Bouhouche’s possible involvement in the Brabant killings during the interview. Beijer’s doubts began to arise when the WNP (Westland New Post), a clandestine organization, was in the media spotlight in 1984, less than a year after Bouhouche and Beijer formed their detective agency.
During this time, Beijer was in contact with a journalist who was investigating the WNP’s activities. Reading the journalist’s book, which highlighted Bouhouche’s connection to the organization after the discovery of the body of Paul Latinus, a WNP leader, was found hanged in his cellar, convinced Beijer to confront his partner. Beijer discovered evidence that suggested Bouhouche was working behind his back and made him consider his own safety. All these discoveries led Beijer to distance himself from Bouhouche, despite their close association, which Bouhouche reluctantly accepted. Bouhouche’s final statement, “your name and my name are forever linked,” would prove prophetic.
When Robert Beijer returns to this separation which took place in September 1984, he evokes a man who compartmentalized his activities, “he had maybe two or three lives, people say I knew him well, that’s not true!”. Throughout the interview, Robert Beijer acknowledges having wondered about Bouhouche’s involvement in the Brabant killings: “I wondered with others. Could he have been one of the Brabant killers?”. His first doubts will arise when the WNP (Westland New Post) is the subject of media attention in 1984, less than a year after having formed its detective agency with Bouhouche. At that time Robert Beijer was in contact with the judicial investigation journalist of Le Soir, René Haquin. This one investigates in particular on the clandestine organization of the “WNP”, whose two members are then suspected of a double assassination. René Haquin has published a book that Robert Beijer takes on vacation, “after reading his book, in my mind I couldn’t stay with Bouhouche anymore” he said. He explains to us that he then confronted his partner with a series of objective elements observed within the agency.
I couldn’t stay with Bouhouche anymore
Robert Beijer discovered the links that unite Bouhouche to several members of the WNP, he then discusses with him the remarks made after the discovery of the body of Paul Latinus, leader of the WNP, hanged in his cellar in Court-St-Etienne in April 1984, “this is how traitors die”. Then the discovery in a room of the agency of a map of staff on which the locality of Court-St-Etienne was surrounded by a circle by Bouhouche. If the official investigation into the death of Latinus concluded with a suicide precise Robert Beijer, the reconstitution made it possible to discover that the wire of the telephone used did not resist the weight of the body of Latinus.
If he swayed me, he swayed too
Another alleged element, the discovery that Michel L., a leading member of the WNP, presented during a police check, an agent card from his agency ARI, “there was a set of elements, which made me think that Bouhouche was working behind my back and that in addition when the WNP worried me a lot at the time […] I always slept with a weapon next to me”. All this will end up convincing Robert Beijer to distance himself from his partner, “I said to myself, I can no longer stay with him despite the facts that bound us strongly, but I told myself that I was still safe because if he swayed me, he swayed too”. Bouhouche will end up reluctantly accepting the separation pronouncing this premonitory sentence, “you are wrong because your name and my name are forever linked”and Robert Beijer to add, “on that point he was right”.
In conclusion, the story of Robert Beijer and Madani Bouhouche is a tale of betrayal and suspicion. Beijer’s decision to distance himself from his partner, despite the strong bonds between them, speaks to his integrity and determination to stay true to his values. Though Bouhouche’s involvement in the Brabant killings remains unclear, the discovery of his links to the WNP and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Paul Latinus raise serious questions about his motives and actions. In the end, Beijer’s decision to walk away from Bouhouche may have been a difficult one, but it was undoubtedly the right choice. As he himself admits, their names will forever be linked, but Beijer can take comfort in the knowledge that he stayed true to himself and his principles.