The potato processing company Lutosa from Waregem received a tip a few years ago that the deliveries of potatoes had been tampered with. For example, some suppliers would charge more weight than was actually delivered. Lutosa called in a private detective who discovered that strange maneuvers were happening during the measurements at the weighbridge.
Whenever a potato farmer arrived with a delivery and drove on the weighbridge for the measurements, a second driver with another truck with the front wheels also stood on the bridge. Sometimes those potato suppliers add a forklift or a tractor. As a result, the weight of the potatoes delivered was higher than it was effective and they earned a lot of extra money. One potato supplier from Opwijk was the most severely convicted. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and has to pay a fine of 40,000 euros. Two ex-employees of the company were also involved in the conspiracy. They both received prison terms and community service.
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