News report | 16-12-2025 | 18:42

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) in Northern Netherlands has just demanded six-year prison sentences against two men aged 32 and 28 from Assen. They are suspected of deliberately exploiting the vulnerability of a young woman from Assen. She was sexually abused in a gross manner for months and forced to work in fraud networks, handing over the proceeds to the suspects.

On February 14, 2024, the woman reported to the police. There she told about her new boyfriend and his partner and about the situation she was in. When she started a relationship with the 32-year-old suspect the year before, life seemed to smile at her. She was in love with this man. But soon her life became a nightmare, partly because of him.

Treated as property
After the relationship started well, both her boyfriend and the other suspect took over her life: they decided everything. Violence, threats, humiliation and controls were daily occurrences according to the public prosecutor. “If she did something they didn’t like, she received a fine or a sanction. Sometimes both. Their will was law. They treated her as their property.”

Fine system
The men threatened fines of at least 1500 euros or even cutting off her fingers if she did not do what they said. She was forced to have sex with suspects and one of the co-suspects. The OM demands a 24-month prison sentence against him.
She also had to ask permission for everything; buying clothes, visiting friends, who she could talk to or whether she could play sports. She was obliged to constantly share her live location. Breaking the rules resulted in a fine.

Bank helpdesk fraud
At first, the woman could still pay the fines herself, later no longer. According to the OM, she was forced to commit bank helpdesk fraud for an acquaintance of the two suspects. This acquaintance is also a suspect in this case. The OM demands a sentence equal to the pre-trial detention, which amounts to almost 12 months.

Life destroyed
The public prosecutor considers a long unconditional prison sentence the only appropriate response for the two main suspects. “They promised to protect the victim, but instead they destroyed her life, took away her freedom and grossly violated her physical integrity.”

Not returning to Assen
The victim had to give up everything she had. The public prosecutor says she cannot return to Assen, the city where she grew up. She also lives constantly under pressure and in fear. “She sleeps poorly, has bad dreams and flashbacks. Her trust in people is completely gone. Her sense of security has been destroyed.”

Tomorrow, December 17, the defense pleas will follow. It is not yet clear when the court will give its verdict.