A 38-year-old man from Assen has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for sexually exploiting a 30-year-old woman. The sentence is therefore less than the required two years in prison.
The judge applies slightly different guidelines than the Public Prosecution Service (OM), which means that the sentence turns out differently. In addition, the judge also takes into account that during the period in which the woman was exploited, the man was in prison for a while. At that time, the relationship was on the back burner, the judge ruled.
The woman filed a report early last year. She was heard in another human trafficking case as a witness. This case also involved the sexual exploitation of women. The woman said the same thing happened to her. The judge finds it sufficiently proven that the Assenaar strengthened her craving for drugs.
He made the woman dependent on it, after which she ended up in prostitution. The man took her to the sex appointments and took care of the customers. The proceeds of the agreements were completely spent on drugs, which were used by both.
The Assenaar was dominant and violent towards the woman, the judge said. He took advantage of her for his own gain. “This is a far-reaching form of exploitation,” said the judge.
The man also showed no respect for the property of others. He stole a watch from another woman to sell it.
The Assenaar must pay the victim compensation of 27,000 euros because of the sexual exploitation. A 35-year-old co-defendant from Assen heard a month ago demand six months in prison for his role. According to the Public Prosecution Service, he made his home available for the victim’s sex work.
The judge does not find it proven that the man worked directly with the 38-year-old Assenaar and acquitted him on that point. Moreover, it has not been established that the man knew about the sexual exploitation of the woman.
He was, however, on trial for money laundering that was captured by Marktplaats fraud. The Assenaar handed over his bank card and PIN code so that criminals could channel this money away. The man was not the mastermind in this fraud case, but he was a link, the judge concluded.
The Assenaar should have known better, the judge added. He has been convicted of this before. He was sentenced to 40 hours community service.