The Public Prosecution Service demands 140 hours of unconditional community service against a 58-year-old woman from Utrecht suspected of breaching professional secrecy. The woman allegedly leaked confidential information regarding an investigation into a former Speaker of the House to the press. According to the Public Prosecution Service, she has violated her confidentiality obligation, which is punishable.
The investigation named Bremen starts when on October 3, 2022, the Presidium, the daily management of the House of Representatives, files a complaint with the chief public prosecutor of the Public Prosecution Service in The Hague due to the leaking of confidential information. This information related to a decision by the Presidium to have an investigation conducted into a former Speaker of the House. Following this, the National Investigation Service, under the direction of the public prosecutor, initiated a criminal investigation.
The investigation was solely focused on the possible involvement of non-Members of Parliament in the leak to the press and not on the involvement of members of the Presidium themselves. If there were to be a case of a criminal offense committed by a member of Parliament, the Public Prosecution Service would not be authorized to conduct a criminal investigation into this.
Witnesses
Many people have been heard in the investigation into the leak. These are individuals who were informed about the decision shortly after the meeting of the Presidium. The investigation has shown that journalists had access to confidential information as early as September 28, before this information was officially made public. “The ship of state is leaking from above, we all know that,” said a witness in the investigation.
Travel and Phone Data
The question remained open as to who was responsible for leaking the documents. Investigation into phone data revealed that the suspect had contact with journalists from September 23 to 28. Additionally, the suspect reportedly discussed the media strategy in a small committee on September 28 after the Presidium decision, where the possibility of leaking to the press was mentioned. After this discussion, she traveled to Amsterdam that same afternoon, where the newspapers editorial office is located. She told her colleagues that she was going home. The suspect knew that this information was confidential and should not be shared with others. After the publication, she advised the management team to let as many people as possible talk to the press to win the “battle in the media” and shape public perception.
Integrity
“By leaking a Presidium decision, the suspect has seriously damaged the integrity of the Presidium and undermined the functioning of the daily leadership of the House of Representatives,” said the public prosecutor. “The actions of the suspect undermine the trust of the public in the functioning of the House of Representatives and politics.”
The Public Prosecution Service hopes that, aside from all the negative consequences that the leak has had for those involved, the outcomes of this investigation can ensure that sensitive information in the House of Representatives is handled (even) more cautiously in the future.
The court will deliver its verdict in this case on June 12.