Report: Public Prosecution has culture of fear

The report of the Fokkens Commission has said that there is a culture of fear in the Dutch Public Prosecution which employs 5000 people.  It says that there are sizable problems which differ in each prosecution unit:  the fact that unrest, gossip and leaks out of the organization ultimately arrive in the media…illustrates that the organization cannot deal with its own problems. The Commission says that the Public Prosecution must make a major effort to reestablish confidence from the outside and within. 

https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2019/04/25/gebrek-aan-ethisch-leiderschap-bij-top-openbaar-ministerie-a3958124

Investigation Commission: Lack of Ethical Leadership at Top of Public Prosecution

During the past year a commission headed by former Prosecutor General at the High Court, Jan Watse Fokkens, has investigated breaches of integrity in the public prosecution.  The issue concerned a romantic relationship between former prosecutor general in Rotterdam, Marc van Nimwegen, and head Officer of Justice, Marianne Bloos.  The report concludes that for many years van Nimwegen and Bloos have had an intimate relationship.  The committee reproached the public prosecution for only starting to investigate the issue when the NRC daily in 2018 published information about the affair.  As a result of the report van Nimwegen has been suspended and the forced leave of Bloos has been prolonged.

https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2019/04/25/gebrek-aan-ethisch-leiderschap-bij-top-openbaar-ministerie-a3958124

The Bad News has exhausted the blogger....

The next item will appear on April 28th...

Wilders has received 200 death threats – prosecution does nothing

Leader of the PVV party, Geert Wilders has attacked Minister Grapperhaus of Justice and Security as the Public Prosecutor has decided not to undertake any action regarding the more than 200 death threats Wilders has received. The Minister said that “there are not enough indications as to who these people are.  Most probably they do not live in Europe, therefore no action will be taken.”  Wilders responded that the Minister gives a bonus to Muslim radicals.

https://www.ad.nl/politiek/wilders-haalt-hard-uit-naar-grapperhaus-over-bedreigingen-aan-adres-pvv-leider~a9a33bec/

Officials of the Ministry of the Interior Hugely Abuse Ministry’s Telephones

An overview of abuse of integrity at the Ministry of the Interior in 2018 found that more than 10 officials have used their work telephones or tablets for private phone calls and internet.  This has incurred substantial cost for the ministry.  One official has even lent his mobile devices to family members who went abroad.  This one official has cost the ministry more than 200,000 Euro in 2018.

https://www.ad.nl/politiek/ambtenaren-verbrassen-tonnen-met-telefoon-van-overheid~aefbbe19/

Researcher says government influenced results of institute

Researcher Gerard Aalders has published a new book in which he says that the Dutch Institute for War Documentation (NIOD), in the past has manipulated research in order to best serve the interests of the Dutch government. This was for instance the case concerning the art collection of Dutch Jewish trader, Goudstikker whose collection was stolen from him  during the war by the Germans.  After the war, the Dutch government refused to return his property to his heirs.

https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/prins-bernhard-belde-zelf-met-het-niod-om-te-klagen~ab605f3e/

Husband of Late Dutch Queen tried to hide his Nazi Past

Gerard Aalders, a former researcher of the National Institute of War Documentation stated that Prince Bernhard, husband of late Dutch Queen Juliana had called him at the institute after he had published that the Prince who was of German origin had been a member of the German Nazi party during the 1930’s. The Prince said that he hadn’t paid a contribution to the party for several months. Aalders said to the Prince that he previously did pay his contributions.

https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/prins-bernhard-belde-zelf-met-het-niod-om-te-klagen~ab605f3e/

Former Chief of Dutch Sperm Bank Fathered 49 Children

DNA tests have confirmed that the ex-chief of a Dutch sperm bank is the biological father of 49 children.  He repeatedly used his own sperm instead of the chosen donors in IVF procedures.  Complainants had highlighted irregularities between the appearance of the children and their supposed donor. The chief of the sperm bank, Jan Karbaat, passed away two years ago.

https://www.euronews.com/2019/04/13/dutch-fertility-scandal-dna-tests-confirm-doctor-jan-karbaat-used-own-sperm-to-father-49-c

Dutch Fighter Jet Shoots Itself

A Dutch F16 fighter jet shot itself with its cannon, forcing the plane into an emergency landing.  This happened after the pilot attempted to hit a practice target at an air base.  The plane suffered considerable damage and part of the munition was found in the engine.  The Department of Defense said that this was a serious incident and the Netherlands Defense Safety Inspection is investigating how the plane was able to fire upon itself.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fighter-jet-canon-fire-f16-dutch-a8859731.html

Terrorism Planners Do Not Collaborate with Justice

In a session at the Rotterdam court, it became clear that those suspected of planning a major terrorist attack did not collaborate with the authorities.  They were arrested in the September 2018 after the police had infiltrated the group.  They wanted to plan a major attack on a public event in the Netherlands with Kalashnikovs and bomb belts. Simultaneously, they wanted to set off a car bomb elsewhere.

https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/opgerold-terreurplot-hebben-de-verdachten-verklaard~acfc23d1/  

One in 5 Dutchmen have moisture and mold in their homes

A study by the Ministry of Interior found that one in five Dutchmen live in homes with spots of moisture and mold.  In old rental apartments, the figure is 40%.  A moist home can lead to health problems such as coughing, tightness of the chest, allergies and asthma.  All in all, this concerns 1,5 million residences.

https://www.ad.nl/wonen/een-op-de-vijf-nederlanders-woont-in-huis-met-vocht-en-schimmel~a6121ed5/

Parliamentarians Worried about Radical Muslim Education

Parliamentarians Worried about Radical Muslim Education

Various representatives of political parties have expressed concern in parliament about Arab lessons after schoolhours. The Intelligence Service (AIVD) says that radical Muslims use these courses to transmit their extrmeist messages to youngsters. Parliamentarian Jan Paternotte of the coalition party D66 said that it was an unacceptable example of abuse of freedom to preach anti-democratic thoughts to young people.

https://www.ad.nl/binnenland/zorgen-kamer-over-radicaal-moslimonderwijs~a130f5f2/

70 000 Fines Per Year Issued For Driving Only 1km Above Speed Limit

On freeways where the maximum speed limit is 130 km per hour, drivers are being fined if they drive just one kilometer above the limit.  In 2012, 2000 people were fined for this offense.  Since 2016, approximately 70 000 drivers per year have been fined. The Police Union are concerned that due to this policy, the public will no longer support fines for speeding drivers.

https://www.ad.nl/auto/kwart-miljoen-boetes-voor-1-km-u-te-hard-dit-riekt-naar-spekken-staatskas~a1030382/