The criminal case against Sywert van Lienden and his partners concerning their mask deal centers on the legality of their actions, as clarified by the judge at the first hearing. The trial will not address whether their actions were morally questionable during the pandemic.
Van Lienden claims media bias and hopes the trial will reveal the truth about the deal. He does not want journalists recording his statements.
The session began with Van Lienden and his partners, Bernd Damme and Camille van Gestel, objecting to the fraud charge against the State, arguing the Health Ministry was aware of the deal’s details. Their lawyers stated the masks were purchased through a commercial entity, not their charity.
The State reportedly became a plaintiff following media reports and public outrage, without filing an official complaint. If the fraud charge against the State is dropped, only Randstad’s complaint remains.
Randstad provided fifteen employees for free, later discovering they supported a profitable deal. A volunteer also filed a complaint.
A decision on the State’s fraud charge is expected around noon.
Source: NOS