Sywert van Lienden’s company, Relief Goods Alliance (RGA), is being sued by the Dutch state. The focus of the legal case is the controversial face mask agreement the company signed with the Ministry of Health during the coronavirus outbreak.
Outgoing Long-Term Care Minister Helder writes in a letter to parliament that the decision was made on the recommendation of the prosecutor. “Given the state’s interest in the case, I cannot comment on the content of this subpoena.”
Last December it became clear that the government would seek to undo the damage caused by the face mask deal. Prosecutors previously opened a criminal investigation into the face mask deal. The procedure initiated by the state is separate from this.
OM: thirty million profit
At the beginning of the corona crisis, Van Lienden signed a 100 million euro agreement with the government to supply face masks. He promised to do it for free, but soon after signing the contract he started a business with two business partners that would actually make a profit. According to the prosecutor’s office, this is around 30 million euros.
In response, Van Lienden calls on the Ministry of Health to issue the subpoena. According to him, the information contained here does not match previous investigations into the face mask deal. “Make this paper public and then anyone can compare it to all existing research,” he said in response to NOS.
He also finds it noteworthy that this is a politically motivated call. “The ministry has tried to say something about this in many ways, but that’s another chapter.”
Source: NOS
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
