Hague corruption affair: acquittal for aldermen De Mos and Guernaoui
NOS News June 21, 2024
https://nos.nl/artikel/2525531-richard-de-mos-in-hoger-beroep-opnieuw-vrijgesproken-van-omkoping
Richard de Mos again acquitted of bribery on appeal
Former Hague alderman Richard de Mos has been acquitted of bribery again on appeal. Also former alderman Rachid Guernaoui and the five other suspects were again acquitted of bribery. However, the court did rule that De Mos and Guernaoui violated their official secrecy. De Mos will receive a suspended fine of 2,000 euros for this.
The former aldermen leaked confidential information to third parties, according to the court. This included a secret draft decision of the college that the De Mos had received in a sealed envelope.
He also shared inside information about night-time exemptions for catering businesses with an entrepreneur, the court said. Furthermore, he shared confidential information with a journalist from Omroep West about the purchase of a parking garage. De Mos will not receive a board ban, which was demanded by the public prosecutor. He can therefore become alderman again in a next college, writes Broadcasting West.
Guernaoui leaked a confidential e-mail to an outsider, according to the court. Because of his clean criminal record and the impact of the protracted legal battle, he will not be removed from office. Nor will he receive any other punishment.
Bribery
Justice was convinced that De Mos had allowed himself to be bribed with gifts and promises by friendly entrepreneurs in exchange for preferential treatment. Last April, the court had cleared De Mos, party colleague Rachid Guernaoui and five entrepreneurs of all allegations acquitted.
De Mos went to court this morning "with full confidence and with this ruling in his pocket," he wrote on X.
The prosecutor's office (OM) went partially into appeal against the seven suspects and demanded a suspended six-month prison sentence and 240 hours of community service against De Mos. The prosecution also sought a four-year ban from office.
In the first instance, the suspicion included participation in a criminal organization. When claimed the prosecution against De Mos an unconditional prison sentence of almost 2 years.
Richard de Mos has always denied any involvement in corruption or bribery. He previously spoke of "false allegations" by the public prosecutor's office.
The largest
In the 2018 municipal elections, the local party Group de Mos/Hart voor Den Haag, founded by De Mos, received the most votes. De Mos had to resign his position as alderman in 2019 because of the year-long investigation into corruption.
In the 2022 municipal elections, Hart voor Den Haag again became the largest party in the city but was passed over in the formation of a new coalition. De Mos already said in the run-up to the appeal to Broadcasting West that if acquitted, he would not demand a seat in the college.
