The accountant’s investigation into the mega-order mouth caps from Sywert van Lienden will not be ready before the summer recess. This is what responsible minister Conny Helder for Long-term Care (VVD) has just reported to the House of Representatives. Deloitte again needs more time.
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It is the umpteenth postponement of the investigation into the mouth cap affair. Last year, the cabinet announced a major independent investigation into the mega deal that made Van Lienden a multimillionaire in one fell swoop. But time and again, the responsible minister has to report that Deloitte needs more time to sort out the facts.
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After fierce criticism last month in the Parliamentary debate in which former Health Minister Hugo de Jonge survived a vote of no confidence Helder promised again that the conclusions could be shared before the summer. The recess starts July 8 and lasts until September 5.
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But ‘unfortunately’ that will not work, Helder reports this evening in a short letter to the House of Representatives. An ‘involved party’ is entitled to a longer period of ‘reconsideration’. A spokesperson cannot say whether it concerns Van Lienden’s organization that is given more time to respond to Deloitte’s initial findings, or whether it concerns a person involved on the side of the ministry. “It’s not up to us,” the spokesperson said.
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