Hundreds of 500 and 200 euro notes were found last year during the search of the home of former Jumbo CEO Frits van Eerd and the grounds of the supermarket chain’s headquarters. It reports that Financial Daily. Exactly one year after Van Eerd’s arrest, it is still unclear exactly what role he played in the large-scale money laundering case.
This would involve 104 notes of 500 euros and 253 notes of 200 euros. The possession of 500 and 200 euro notes is seen as an important indicator of money laundering by the FIOD, the investigative service of the Tax Authorities of the Netherlands. These notes are hardly used in normal payment transactions anymore.
Large sums of cash
During the search, the FIOD found a total of 176,000 euros in a safe in the Brabant villa of the Jumbo boss and 250,000 euros in the workshop of Van Eerd’s personal racing team RTN, located at Jumbo’s head office in Veghel. The investigating service found another 19,000 euros in cash in a bag in a car.
The Dutch court is expected to decide at the end of this year whether former Jumbo CEO Frits van Eerd and the other nine suspects in the large-scale money laundering investigation surrounding them should be prosecuted. The money laundering took place through real estate transactions, car trading, unexplained cash deposits and sponsorship contracts in motocross sport, the Public Prosecution Service previously said. In addition, there is a suspicion of VAT fraud in the car trade. Van Eerd will soon hear whether he has to appear in court or get away with a fine.
The home of Frits van Eerd in Heeswijk-Dinther, among other things, was searched as part of the money laundering investigation. Van Eerd himself spent a number of days in jail. © Belga, ANP
“Explanation”
DNA research by the Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI) on the money found yielded nothing. According to Van Eerd’s lawyer Robbert Jonk, the notes that were found “obviously do not originate from crime”. He indicates that an “explanation” has now also been given to the FIOD about the legal origin of the money. He does not want to elaborate further on that origin.
After the raid, Frits van Eerd temporarily stepped down as chairman of the supermarket chain, but was soon replaced by Ton van Veen. Since then, Van Eerd has only been involved as a shareholder in important strategic developments of Jumbo. The supermarket chain already announced that even if Van Eerd were found innocent, he would not return as chairman of the board.
Also read: From celebrated CEO to fraud suspect: how Dutchman Frits van Eerd and his Jumbo went off the rails (+)
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.
Yes, I want free unlimited access
2023-09-14 08:01:19
#Hundreds #banknotes #euros #search #Jumbo #CEOs #villa