Van Lienden and Damme will remain suspended for at least another month as drivers of Auxiliary Forces Alliance

This is apparent from a decision of the court in Amsterdam. Initially, the intention was that the court would make a final decision on the suspension this week, but that has been postponed at the request of Van Lienden and Damme, because they need more time to go through all the documents.

The Auxiliary Troops Alliantie foundation, which played a crucial role in Van Lienden’s controversial mask trade, will remain under the rule of lawyer Wouter Jongepier due to the court decision. He took office as a temporary director at the end of April after the Public Prosecution Service and seven former employees of the foundation demanded the departure of Van Lienden and Damme from the board. Their third partner, Camille van Gestel, had already resigned earlier.

The three men claimed during the first corona wave that they brought protective equipment for the ‘heroes in care’ to the Netherlands through the Auxiliary Alliance Foundation ‘free of charge’. They received help from volunteers and renowned partners such as Randstad and Coolblue.

Revealed in 2021 de Volkskrant that Van Lienden, Damme and Van Gestel had secretly placed a government order of EUR 100.8 million in the name of their own company and not in the name of the foundation. In this way they could secretly earn millions from the face mask trade, while they continued to operate ‘without profit’ towards their partners and the outside world.

The seven ex-employees and the Public Prosecution Service believe that the three men have ‘withdrawn’ orders from the foundation, which has lost many millions as a result. Van Lienden, Damme and Van Gestel are now suspected of embezzlement and fraud by the Public Prosecution Service.

–