Gerrit Jan van D., the father of the family that was discovered in October 2019 in a remote farm in Ruinerwold, is demanding compensation for the time he was in custody. His lawyer confirms this to RTV Drenthe† She does not want to say how much money Van D. demands from the judiciary.
Gerrit Jan van D. was detained from October 2019 to early March last year on suspicion of, among other things, deprivation of liberty and abuse of his nine children and sexual abuse of some of them. After one of them asked for help at a cafe in the village, the police discovered the man, who was living in isolation with six of his children.
The now 69-year-old self-proclaimed patriarch preached his own faith. He had never declared the six to the registry office. Three older children had fled the family earlier. In 2016, three years before the family was discovered, Van D. suffered a brain haemorrhage. As a result, he can no longer speak and understand a lot.
After extensive investigation, the court in Assen ruled in March last year that he is unable to stand trial. He was then released and now lives, separated from his children, in an institution.
Next Thursday, the court in Assen will consider Van D’s claim for damages.
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