The soap opera surrounding the ‘mayor leak’ in Den Bosch has been continued. Sjef van Creij was convicted in 2019 for leaking secret information during the selection of the new mayor of Den Bosch. He is said to have shared the name of the number one candidate with former councilor and good friend Jos van Son. Van Creij tried to prove his innocence to the judges of the Court.
What was that again? In 2017, a successor was sought for outgoing mayor Ton Rombouts. As leader of his party, Sjef van Creij was simply DRIVEN in the confidential committee. This committee conducts job interviews with candidates.
As a result, Van Creij knew that Jan Hamming was the number one candidate for the position. Confidential information that had to remain secret. But on the Sunday before the announcement of the new mayor, the councilor allegedly leaked the name to good friend, fellow party members and councilor at the time Jos van Son. He himself was not a member of the confidential committee. Van Creij is also said to have given a hint about the political background of the desired candidate.
“No, that didn’t happen. I haven’t mentioned any names. He actually came up with four possible names. Me and Van Son had been working together for years, so I think he could see from my face that the right one was among them,” the councilor said on Friday from the suspect’s bench.
He does admit that he has maneuvered ‘on the edge’ about the political color of the proposed mayor. He is said to have mentioned three names of faction leaders and said: ‘They will be happy that he is becoming mayor.’
Community service
In 2017, Van Son passed on the information to others, including a journalist from the Brabants Dagblad and fellow councilors. Ultimately, Jan Hamming did not choose the position of mayor in Den Bosch for personal reasons, but that of Zaanstad. As a result, Jack Mikkers, the current mayor, was ultimately elected.
But that made no difference to the judge in 2019 who sentenced Van Creij to 60 hours of community service, of which 20 hours were conditional. Van Son received a community service order of 40 hours. The Den Bosch councilor appealed. According to Van Creij, the conviction was based on wrong arguments.
In the meantime, four new witnesses have been heard at his request. Jos van Son is not among them, because the former councilor has now passed away. The details of the statements vary, but according to the Advocate General, the common thread of the statements is the same: someone has mentioned or confirmed the name of the number one candidate. According to him, this establishes that Van Son received the names of a member of the confidential committee: Van Creij.
The Advocate General understands the previous conviction of community service, but takes into account the long time between the verdict and the appeal. He therefore demands the same thing as the public prosecutor during the trial: a fine of 1,000 euros. To put an end to the ongoing affair. “The money won’t be a problem. But I’d rather not,” the Den Bosch resident says, laughing. He hopes for an acquittal.
The court will give its ruling in two weeks.