The 57-year-old former physiotherapist Bennie Z. from Emmer-Compascuum, who ran a practice in Klazienaveen for years, was sentenced to six years in prison and a professional ban of eleven years. According to the Court, he was guilty of fornication, assault and rape of fifteen female clients in the 2016 to 2021 period.
The punishment is considerably higher than the 3.5 years in prison that the court in Assen imposed him in November last year. Both Z. and the Public Prosecution Service appealed. Where the court still released him in three cases, the Court ruled that there was enough evidence for a conviction in two of them. This brings the total to fifteen sex offenses, two of which are rape cases.
Z. continued during the court case that he is innocent. According to him, his ‘unconventional methods’ provided good results. However, experts wiped that defense off the table. The professional association for physiotherapists (KNGF) stated that treating naked patients is not common and unnecessary. Another expert report concluded that his approach “does not fit in any way” with current physiotherapeutic treatments. The Court therefore calls his statement “completely unlikely”.
Z.’s lawyer thought that the prosecutor leaned too heavily on statements of indirect witnesses and argued for omitting them. The court rejected that. According to the judges, there is plenty of different evidence and the statements of the fifteen women connect on crucial points. Their stories were also supported by witnesses to whom they previously told their experiences, and partly even confirmed by Z. himself.
The file also contains incriminating recordings. For example, a conversation was recorded between Z. and the husband of one of the victims, in which the former physiotherapist was confronted with his behavior. According to the Court, the story of the victim is thus supported. Z. also admitted that he massaged women while they were naked.
The Court counts heavily the man that he has “grossly” the trust of his clients. Women who came to his practice for help were confronted with sexual abuse instead. According to the judges, the victims are still struggling with psychological and physical complaints. Their sense of security and trust in others is permanently affected.
The court will blame him for the fact that Z. continues to deny. According to the judges, he shows that he does not take any responsibility for his actions and the consequences thereof. “He only had an eye for his own needs,” the court said in the ruling.
In addition to the prison sentence and the professional ban, the Court emphasizes that the case must issue a broader message to society. Although Z. has since been deleted from the BIG register and is therefore no longer allowed to exercise a medical profession, the judges find a professional ban of eleven years necessary. According to them, it must be clear that a physiotherapist who is guilty of serious cross -border behavior can no longer practice his profession.