The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has decided to prosecute Damen Shipyards Gorinchem and Damen Naval Shipyards for bribery, forgery, and money laundering. This occurred according to the OM in connection with the sale of ships abroad. Former executives are also being prosecuted for their involvement in these criminal acts. Additionally, the OM has decided to summon Damen Shipyards Gorinchem for violating the Sanctions Act. This suspicion concerns the violation of sanctions imposed following the war between Russia and Ukraine.
There are two criminal investigations that are separate from each other. The investigation into bribery was conducted by the FIOD, focuses on a period from 2006 to January 2017, and concerns the payment of high commissions to agents. These agents were engaged for the sale of ships to various countries in Africa, Asia, and South America.
The payment of commissions creates a substantial risk of (re)paying bribes to officials of the countries with which business was conducted. Over a series of years, a large number of false documents were presumably created to conceal the high commission payments to agents and to frustrate control over them, including during applications for export credit insurance.
The trial is expected to start in the second half of this year with a preliminary hearing. The OM is in consultation with the court and the defense for a date.
The investigation into the violation of the Sanctions Act was conducted by customs and concerns goods and technology that could contribute to the military and technological strengthening of Russia and/or to the development of the defense and security sector. This investigation focuses on a period of several months in the second half of 2022.