UPDATEThe Dutch ex-television presenter Frank Masmeijer (60) was previously released from captivity, by a decision of the Dutch King Willem-Alexander. Masmeijer was imprisoned for drug trafficking, for which he was convicted by a Belgian judge. However, he was pardoned due to “personal circumstances”, according to his lawyer. He also says that the “judicial process in Belgium has not been fair”.
Watch: Frank Masmeijer about the criminal case on RTL Late Night
The case
In June 2019, the Antwerp court of appeal sentenced the 59-year-old former television presenter to nine years in prison for his part in the import of 467 kilos of cocaine through the port of Antwerp. He was also fined 90,000 euros. But a few hours after the Dutch head of state signed the pardon request, the former presenter was released.
That the convicted person was pardoned is due to personal circumstances. That is what lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops said on Wednesday in a video fragment in the Dutch TV program ‘Renze’.
“In that case we are actually talking about events in his family that arose as a result of the detention and during detention,” said Knoops, without giving any explanation. Knoops was one of the lawyers of the former television star Masmeijer. Earlier on Wednesday, Knoops did not know what the reason was for the pardon.
Judiciary in Belgium
Knoops also said in the video fragment at Renze that the pardon had been requested “on the grounds that Mr Masmeijer was wrongly convicted”. In the Dutch talk show, ‘Op1’, Knoops said on Wednesday evening that the request for a clemency, which was made by Masmeijer’s girlfriend, “showed that the legal process in Belgium has not been fair”.
Furthermore, Knoops said in Op1 that he and Masmeijer are “overwhelmed” and “surprised” about the criticism of the pardon granted to the former presenter. “Nothing special has happened here,” Knoops responded in the talk show.
He also finds the reactions “hypocritical” because, according to him, pardons are granted “a hundred or more” times every year in the Netherlands. “Also to people with multiple homicides. Things that are many times worse than what Mr Masmeijer was convicted for.” Things are not going well with the former presenter because he gets this over him, says the lawyer.
Earlier, Knoops said that pardons are only granted in “exceptional cases”.
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