Reporter Silvan Schoonhoven reports live from the room, and you can read it at the bottom of this message.
The conspiracy theorists are on trial at the court in The Hague on suspicion of incitement and (death) threats against RIVM director Jaap van Dissel, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and a general practitioner in Bodegraven. Against co-defendant Hans de M. (57) from Krimpen aan den IJssel, the public prosecutor demanded on Thursday a community service of 180 hours and three months in prison, which he has already served in pre-trial detention.
The suspects spread unsubstantiated stories about satanic ritual child abuse in Bodegraven. Based on childhood memories, K. believes that Van Dissel and the GP were involved. The OM calls the bizarre accusations. “Day after day this story was pumped in. Pure debauchery,” said the officer. “Suspects are still being held in high regard. Therein lies a real risk.”
Bodegraven
As a result of the internet broadcasts of the suspects, dozens of conspiracy theorists came to a cemetery in Bodegraven early last year to lay flowers on children’s graves. There were also flowers in the garden at Van Dissel.
R. filmed a cycling Van Dissel from his car and called him a “sadopedophile” and “child killer” in the video. In another video of the suspects, Van Dissel’s private address was disclosed on April 28, 2021. From that moment on, the chairman of the Outbreak Management Team (OMT) was protected 24 hours a day. “The suspects were investigator, prosecutor, judge and executioner all at once. And we see that more often with conspiracy theorists,” said the officer. He called their much-watched Internet broadcasts “an orgy of suspicion.” According to the OM, the suspects earned 111,000 euros in donations through the internet broadcasts.