Sywert van Lienden and his partner, Bernd Damme, were released from their directorship of the Cooperative Alliance Foundation. This was decided by the court at the request of the public prosecutor.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, an investigation shows that Van Lienden and his employees have used the network and the goodwill of the foundation to obtain orders for their own trading companies.
The court has now appointed a trustee who can investigate whether Van Lienden and his employees can be held liable for damage. According to prosecutor Otto van der Bijl, the suspension is an important first step in recovering the millions that Van Lienden and his business partners have earned. She doesn’t feel like the money has been embezzled: “We assume we can get it back.
Van Lienden, Damme and Van Gestel let us know that they were surprised by the decision. They say they have participated in numerous investigations and continue to do so “to demonstrate that they have acted with sincerity and integrity”.
100 million contract
At the start of the corona crisis, Van Lienden signed a deal of 100 million euros with the government for the supply of face masks. He promised to do this for free, but Van Lienden and his two business partners started a business shortly after the deal was closed, which turned into a profit.
According to the public prosecutor about 30 million euros. After the tax cut, Van Lienden paid himself 9 million euros and each of his business partners 5 million euros. In conclusion, the foundation concludes that there is a significant disadvantage, the Public Prosecution Service concludes.
Earlier this month, the Public Prosecution Service therefore asked the judge to suspend and dismiss Van Lienden and his remaining partner Bernd Damme. The third partner, Camille van Gestel, had previously resigned.
In addition to Crown, seven former Cooperative Alliance Foundation employees have filed for removal from the board. Today, the court in Amsterdam has ordered the immediate withdrawal of the board of directors. Then comes the dismissal decision.
Lawyers for ex-employees are happy with the suspension, because it could lead to the money ‘going to the wrong place’. They hope the new board of the foundation will take action, seek compensation and get the money in the right place.
Source: NOS
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