The Public Prosecution Service (OM) demands prison sentences of five years, eight years, and 42 months against three Amsterdam men aged 22, 27, and 36.
The investigation started on February 24, 2023, when the police stopped a car in Utrecht after a report. Officers found three men, firearms, and phones. One of the phones later turned out to contain police information with license plate, address, and personal data that was allegedly shared for payment. Research quickly revealed that nine service numbers of police officers had searched for the information in the system. A comparison of log data and duty rosters led the investigation to one person: the 36-year-old suspect.
“Hot”
Under the leadership of the National Criminal Investigation Department, an investigation was initiated into the suspected bribery. Among other things, recording equipment was placed in the cars of the police officer and his brother: the 27-year-old suspect. In this way, the investigators ultimately intercepted conversations that, according to the OM, confirm that there is a sale of police information. The recordings capture how the 27-year-old suspect tells an unknown man that he knows someone within the police who can tell him how “hot” people are. By this, he means he can confirm whether someone is being investigated by the police or not. Later, he actually shares information that someone is being observed.
The recordings also capture how the two brothers talk to each other about requested information and its status. Research shows that ultimately twenty-three license plates and nineteen people were queried, with which the brothers would have earned tens of thousands of euros. The 27-year-old brother also appears to be actively involved in drug trafficking, according to the recordings.
Arrest
The three suspects were ultimately arrested on June 18, 2024. At the youngest brothers home, cash and many expensive items were found. At the third suspect, a 22-year-old contact of the youngest brother, over 65 kilos of (hard) drugs were found with a value of 1.5 million euros. The police also found large amounts of cash in his house.
Threatened
During the interrogation, the 36-year-old suspect stated that he indeed leaked information, but that he only cooperated because he was threatened by people from the criminal circuit. According to the OM, this has not been shown in the investigation. Research shows, among other things, that the suspect provides information that is not requested and suggests to his brother to ask for more money for the leaked information. He also urges his brother multiple times in one day to report requests because he is working that day. Behavior that, according to the OM, does not fit the pressure the suspect describes.
Breach of Trust
In determining the sentence demand, account is taken of the seriousness of the facts. “The 36-year-old suspect has, as a police officer, committed bribery,” the public prosecutor begins today in court. “He has abused his position as an investigative officer and grossly violated the trust placed in him.” The prosecutor is also clear about the 27-year-old suspect. “The suspect played a very active role in leaking police data as a sort of information broker. These functions are enormously important for serious organized crime.”
Against the 36-year-old suspect, the OM demands a prison sentence of 42 months and a professional ban of eight years. His brother, the 27-year-old suspect, is to receive eight years in prison according to the OM. The third suspect signed a plea agreement with the OM this morning, agreeing to a prison sentence of five years.
