Boxtel councillor, 38, arrested on suspicion of election fraud
The 38-year-old, who also works for the Public Prosecution Service (OM), is suspected of five offences, and a second man has been arrested.
A 38-year-old municipal councillor for D66 in Boxtel, who also works for the Public Prosecution Service (OM), was arrested this week on suspicion of election fraud.
Besides election fraud, he is suspected of official corruption, forgery, computer trespass and breach of official secrecy, the OM says. A suspect is presumed innocent until a court rules otherwise.
Earlier this year he came up in a separate criminal investigation on suspicion of money laundering. The OM then suspended him.
A second man, aged 34, was also arrested. To protect the investigation, the OM says it will release no further information.
A D66 spokesperson said the party is shocked. “If these suspicions prove justified, that runs counter to what our party stands for and there is no room for it,” the spokesperson said. While the investigation continues, D66 will not comment on the case.
Wiebe de Leijer, D66 group leader in Boxtel, said the group has too little information to confirm the news or respond at length. “As soon as we know more, we will come out with a statement,” he said.
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OM (Openbaar Ministerie)
The Public Prosecution Service, which decides whether suspects are prosecuted and brings criminal cases to court.
D66 (Democraten 66)
Democrats 66 (D66) is a Dutch political party that fields candidates in national, provincial, European and municipal elections. Its members can be elected to the House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer), the Provincial States, the European Parliament and municipal councils (gemeenteraden), where they take part in local decision-making and oversight of the mayor and aldermen.