Our reporter Patrick Pouw is present at the case. Follow his live reporting at the bottom of this article.
Why did Frits van Eerd have contacted Jumbo with co -suspect Theo E., the man who was known as ‘the car dealer of the underworld’? Why was that contact, even after Van Eerd became a suspect in 2014 in an investigation into a Frisian drug criminal through his contacts with this Theo E.? He would, after that for Jumbo potentially explosive business, distance himself from the infamous car dealer?
Utgled Oud-Jumbo CEO Frits van Eerd: regret contacts with ‘Car dealer of the underworld’
These questions were central on Monday during the substantive treatment of the case. With the knowledge of today he would never do it that way, he finally said. He knew the car dealer from the motocross world, and was surprised that E. suddenly appeared in a large drug investigation. From ‘curiosity’, he also kept in touch after 2014, despite a letter in which he stated that he had a distance from E..
But above all, Van Eerd said, he was afraid that it would be known through the car dealer that he had been a suspect in a drug case. ‘Explosive’ for Jumbo if that were to be open, says Van Eerd. That is why he wanted to keep E. a bit in the neighborhood. “
The Drenthe car dealer eagerly made use of this, according to the police investigation team. In exchange for shadowy sponsorship contracts, Van Eerd – according to E. ‘always crazy about money’ – received goods and cash
Utgled, head bent, supported by his fist, Van Eerd heard all accusations on Monday. His arrest has had a huge impact on his life, he said.
Van Eerd repeated that the enormous amount of money found at his home was saved over the years with the sale of cars and motorbikes. According to him, there is no criminal money. He had ‘not thought’ that he should have informed the tax authorities about the four and a half tons of cash.