Former TV presenter Frank Masmeijer (60) is according to The Telegraph released from detention, a few hours after King Willem-Alexander signed a pardon request. To his own surprise, the former NCRV member was released earlier from a cell in Nieuwegein.
Masmeijer was sentenced to nine years in prison for his part in a large-scale coke smuggling case in Antwerp. At the end of 2021, he was transferred from a prison in Belgium to Nieuwegein, where he would serve the rest of his sentence.
During the lawsuit in Belgium, the former showmaster denied any involvement for a long time, but in 2018 he confessed to having played a “limited role” in an attempt to smuggle 467 kilos of cocaine from Colombia in banana boxes to the port in Antwerp.
Weekly magazine Privatelythat according to The Telegraph brings the news about the pardon on Wednesday, the former presenter spoke exclusively in Vinkeveen where he talks about the remarkable turn in the criminal case.
Masmeijer says he owes his release to his girlfriend Anita, a special judge and Minister Franc Weerwind of Legal Protection. After the king confirmed his early release, Masmeijer was able to leave prison.