It is happening more and more often: adults using their own children to commit crimes. Today, three suspects are on trial who, according to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), have used their underage (step-)daughters aged 10 and 12 to steal and deal drugs. With a special thematic session, the OM is bundling three cases today to highlight the impact of the criminal exploitation of children.
Two suspects are on trial today because they are suspected of using their 10-year-old (step-)daughter to commit shoplifting. “Not a complicated case in itself,” begins the prosecutor. “Especially not now that the cameras have captured everything.” However, the case deviates from ‘normal’ shoplifting. “When you deliberately allow a minor to commit criminal offenses, it can be seen as criminal exploitation,” the prosecutor states. She explains that a child is often dependent on an adult and looks up to that person. A relationship of dependency that is often abused, according to the prosecutor.
Chat Conversations
So too by the third suspect, who allegedly had her daughter deal drugs from the age of 12. This is evidenced by chat conversations with customers on the confiscated phones of the suspect and her daughter, according to the OM. The suspect would have her daughter deliver and sell narcotics. She also informed customers that she would temporarily be offline under the name ‘DeBuurvrouw’, but that her daughter would still be active under the name ‘tBuurmeisje’. That her daughter actually had contact with customers is evident from the historical data of the daughters phone.
Endless Repetition
“Criminal exploitation of minors is a serious offense,” the prosecutor states. This is related to several issues. For example, it concerns children who have been entrusted to the care of the suspects. Under those circumstances, children often have no choice but to cooperate. In the case of the three suspects, the child is fully made part of the crime and provides financial benefits to the suspects. “As far as children are caught, they are not prosecutable under the age of 12,” the prosecutor adds. “This can lead to endless repetition without criminal consequences.”
Community Service and Prison Sentences
According to the OM, the suspects must still bear the consequences. Against the two individuals suspected of using their (step-)daughter in shoplifting, the OM demands a community service sentence of 60 hours and a conditional prison sentence of 4 months with a probation period of 2 years. The woman who, according to the investigation, had her daughter deal drugs, is to receive a community service sentence of 180 hours and a conditional prison sentence of 6 months with a probation period of 2 years, if it is up to the OM. In this case, the OM takes into account that the suspect has sought appropriate help and has since had no further contact with the police or the OM.