A convicted people trafficker who escaped from Dutch detention while on special leave has been discovered in Turkey by daily De Telegraaf. The paper reports that the Turkish criminal, Saban B. (surname withheld) is running a nightclub in the Turkish resort of Antalya.

The Netherlands' public prosecutor's office has said it is unable to confirm the report, but De Telegraaf claims that Dutch justice authorities knew as early as November where B. was hiding. The prosecutors say it is impossible to force B.'s return to the Netherlands, because Turkey does not extradite its own subjects.

Saban B. escaped in September when he was on special leave, ostensibly to visit his girlfriend and baby. The court decision to grant the man leave caused an uproar, and the judges later admitted they had underestimated the risk that Saban B. would run away. Several of his victims went into hiding when it became clear that the trafficker was at large.

Saban B. (Photo: de Telegraaf)