The Public Prosecution Service (OM) demands in appeal the maximum sentence of eight years imprisonment and a professional ban of thirteen years for two men aged 65 and 38. They are suspected of abusing ten residents of a care farm in Wedde, Groningen, from 2020 to 2022. The men were the managers of the care farm where vulnerable residents with the highest care indication were accommodated.
The case came to the police in October 2022. Former employees expressed serious concerns about what was happening at the care farm and approached the makers of the TV program Undercover in Nederland by Alberto Stegeman. A staff member of the TV program subsequently made recordings at the care farm. The camera footage and evidence collected by the police revealed a very disturbing picture.
The two suspects systematically abused the residents of the care farm. They also encouraged employees and interns to do the same. For example, residents were denied food, physically abused, tied to a treadmill so they had to keep walking, had a sock forced into their mouths; the file is full of shocking incidents. Other residents had to witness and experience these abuses repeatedly, causing them fear and stress. The court sentenced the two suspects to 5 years and 4 months imprisonment for co-perpetration of assault with premeditation. The men appealed this verdict.
APPEAL
In appeal, the Public Prosecution Service has aggravated the charges, meaning the accusations against the suspects are considered more severe. The OM notes that one of the victims suffered serious bodily injury from the abuse. Experts who worked with this victim after his stay at the care farm in Wedde observed that he suffers from post-traumatic complaints. The victim experiences severe stress when reminded of his stay at the care farm. What the suspects did to him has had a long-lasting severe impact, requiring ongoing trauma treatment to this day. The OM considers the post-traumatic complaints as serious bodily injury, warranting the maximum sentence demand.
During the hearing, the advocate-general (prosecutor in appeal) described what happened at the care farm. “Distressing. Humiliating. Heartless. That is how the suspects speak and act towards the residents among themselves. This shows no loving care. And to think these are residents with the highest care indication. They could not resist the atrocities. They especially needed skilled care, empathy, and love. While the care farm was their home. Home: a place where they should have felt safe and loved. A place where they should have received the care and attention they so desperately needed. But nothing was further from the truth. It was a place focused on punishment, humiliation, mockery, and belittlement.”
Besides the eight-year prison sentence, the OM has demanded a professional ban for both men for thirteen years. If the court of appeal follows this demand, it means that after serving their prison sentences, both men will be prohibited from working in care for thirteen years. The OM took into account the attitude of the suspects when formulating the sentence demand. They have shown hardly any remorse in recent years and during the appeal hearings and have taken minimal responsibility. The advocate-general said today “The suspects care a lot about themselves but show no compassion for the residents. Not even three years after reading in the file and additional reports how the residents suffered under their behavior. Not even after a whole day in appeal court confronted with the horrors. This shows that the suspects do not take responsibility for the criminal acts committed by themselves and under their leadership and supervision.”
The court of appeal in Leeuwarden will announce the verdict after the hearing.
