On Thursday, the Public Prosecution Service demanded two years in prison against conspiracy theorist Wouter R.. Justice suspects 54-year-old R. of incitement, libel, slander and threatening, among others, RIVM boss Jaap van Dissel. Against co-defendant Joost K. (44) the Public Prosecution Service demands a conditional prison sentence of nine months against co-defendant Joost K. (44) and that he is treated for a paranoid delusional disorder. Both men are on trial on suspicion of (death) threats against Van Dissel, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, former Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge and a general practitioner in Bodegraven.
The suspects made internet broadcasts under the name Red Pill Journal in which conspiracy theories were spread about so-called pedo networks. The prosecutor called it dangerous that the suspects are still “held on hands” in Telegram groups. “At some point, corona measures will come again, I think we should be very concerned if the suspects start to interfere in the discussions in these chat groups again.” According to the OM, both suspects received a total of more than 110,000 euros in donations from their supporters.
Wouter R. was described as the leader of the group of conspiracy theorists, who is “persistent and fully accountable” and “very aware of his support”. In the demand, which was pronounced in the court in The Hague, the public prosecutor suggested that this “should be blamed on him very much”. R. has, among other things, distributed Van Dissel’s private address in chat channels, observed him closely, filmed and called on him to pay ‘visits’.
Joost K. spread messages, according to his own words based on childhood memories, in which he said that Van Dissel and the doctor were involved in satanistic ritual child abuse in Bodegraven. The Public Prosecution Service called it “bizarre accusations”.
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