Indeed his money was legally earned in the Netherlands. The problem is he made much more then he was telling the tax authorities. Hence he was charged with money laundering and tax evasion. When it became too hot for him he quickly sold his coffee shop chain, retired and moved to Thailand. That should have been the end of the story as one would expect that as a multimillionaire he would be able to make any problems easily go away in Thailand.

 

But the Dutch government didn't like to get the finger and requested Thai authorities to assist them in arresting Van Laarhoven for money laundering and tax evasion. They did so in 2012 and in 2013 again with no answer. In 2014 they did a third attempt and by now the military were in power. They answered that they would consider cooperating but it would be a long process. Not sure if that was a yes or a no a police officer stationed at the Dutch embassy in Bangkok decided to write a letter to the Thai minister of Justice. Not sure if he was naive or mean or both but in his letter for the first time the drug trade was mentioned. Also Van Laarhoven's Thai wife Tukta had been mentioned in the official requests as a possibly witness to be interrogated. In the letter she was made a suspect. The police officer did not ask for cooperation but asks the Thais to make their own case which they then did resulting in a 103-year jail sentence.

 

Obviously there was public outcry in the Netherlands because of this 103-years. The general public was not really aware of the real charges any more and saw Van Laarhoven as a victim. A hard working coffee shop owner who had done nothing illegal but was convicted for it in a country where he did not even commit this 'crime'.

 

Now that he is back in the Netherlands he is in the Dutch mass media mainly pictured as a victim and a hero. Someone who accomplished to survive 5 years of gruesome Thai jail. But the main reason he is back is because he has the financial resources to hire a top notch high profile Dutch lawyer who apparently can pull strings with the Dutch minister of Justice.  

Edited January 17, 20206 yr by Roel

16 hours ago, Scot123 said:

I followed this and the headline is very misleading. Yes a letter was sent but it was a mistake. He made his money legally. His mistake was to flant it. I am shocked and very surprised that he has been released as all his assets have gone (some would say stolen). His story should be compulsory reading for any rich weastener thinking of retiring to Thailand. Very pleased he is out and look forward to his story (I hope his wife is with him so he can speak freely and truthfully). 

He was setup.by corrupt law eenforcment who paid the judge. Prayut 6 year term has been laughable 

Edited January 17, 20206 yr by tomauasia

13 hours ago, ukrules said:

I've read everything about this case.

 

He should not have been in prison at all, it shouldn't matter what the Dutch did, it was nothing to do with the Thais.

 

Where is his money now? Who owns his properties and cars?

Let me guess. The military and some cops, perhaps?

 

Thai authorities think that they can do what they want with us. 

Off topic post removed

13 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Nah, you'll probably fall off a balcony if you do.

This case is one of the greatest examples of, "never bring more money to Thailand than you need for immediate living expenses"

 

My Thai health insurance policy is to never be worth anything to any Thai if I'm dead (or in prison).

I'd rather leave than put 800k in a Thai bank account and risk my gf killing me to get it.

 

It's good that he's been finally released though.

Never trust a Thai and your ok

14 hours ago, ukrules said:

 

 

Where is his money now? Who owns his properties and cars?

Thousands and thousands of foreigners who have been extorted/ripped off in Thailand could ask that question too.

 

I often wonder what the total figure would be say over the last 30 years. Did that Irish guy in Phuket ever get anything back?

15 hours ago, sweatalot said:

years in prison, all his posessions stolen. And that by a country that likes to call itself democratic and his justice system being a justice system. 

 

And it looks like he never will be compensated. Their should be thousands of dollars for each day in prison innocent. Even for that I would not like to bee one hour in a Thai prison.

 

Thailand destroyed his life.

He was shafted by the Dutch prosecution who claimed bogus charges, not by the Thai's. 

5 minutes ago, Kenchamp said:

Thousands and thousands of foreigners who have been extorted/ripped off in Thailand could ask that question too.

 

I often wonder what the total figure would be say over the last 30 years. Did that Irish guy in Phuket ever get anything back?

Money went to top brass of the cops division. He was the mastermind with the senior investigator. He dispersed the funds and assets how he chose to.

16 hours ago, ukrules said:

He never should have been arrested in the first place. It just shows how backwards and corrupt this place is.

 

Where is all his money and who owns his property/vehicles now?

??? It was the Dutch authorities who asked for him to be picked up. They have a treaty with Thailand regarding prisoner exchange.

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

 

 

I'd rather leave than put 800k in a Thai bank account and risk my gf killing me to get it.

 

.

Your gf might kill you just for 800k?? That is peanuts in the grand scheme of things,

Edited January 17, 20206 yr by Khon Kaen Jeff

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

 

This case is one of the greatest examples of, "never bring more money to Thailand than you need for immediate living expenses"

 

 

Yep, one single isolated case really does prove your point doesn't it. Incredible stuff.

15 hours ago, sweatalot said:

years in prison, all his posessions stolen. And that by a country that likes to call itself democratic and his justice system being a justice system. 

 

And it looks like he never will be compensated. Their should be thousands of dollars for each day in prison innocent. Even for that I would not like to bee one hour in a Thai prison.

 

Thailand destroyed his life.

It would be nice to hear that he will sue the Dutch government for everything he lost, plus time in prison, and damages amounting to the rest of his earnings in future, seeing as how they instigated the letters which appear to be illegal.

This will be a great lesson to some others. Never show what you got. Never tell people more than what they need to know about your past/present. Teach your wife to stop telling neighbors about your personal life, 

It’s all Trumped up..... IMO showed have been extradited to Holland

not held in Thai prison.....can’t imagine his wife’s agony locked up for?.

17 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Common sense finally finds a foothold in the country. Everything he was ever accused of happened outside Thailand so his imprisonment was a travesty. I suspect he will be leaving minus all of his assets though, which undoubtedly will also never be received by the Dutch.

What common sense?  Common sense does not exist in any way or form in Thailand. 

17 hours ago, ukrules said:

He never should have been arrested in the first place. It just shows how backwards and corrupt this place is.

The article however says...

Quote

...Thai justice officials reportedly started investigating Van Laarhoven in 2014 following a letter from a Dutch public prosecution department official, informing the authorities he had earned his money selling marijuana and requesting help in a criminal investigation.

[ ... ]

...He also faces a criminal investigation in the Netherlands for money laundering.

 

‘The investigation will focus on tax fraud, membership of a criminal organisation and laundering €20m,’ a public prosecution department official said.

 

Glad to see that they've put that farce to bed. Others aren't that lucky, unfortunately.

15 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Nah, you'll probably fall off a balcony if you do.

This case is one of the greatest examples of, "never bring more money to Thailand than you need for immediate living expenses"

 

My Thai health insurance policy is to never be worth anything to any Thai if I'm dead (or in prison).

I'd rather leave than put 800k in a Thai bank account and risk my gf killing me to get it.

 

It's good that he's been finally released though.

not such a good idea to be with a gf who you think will kill you for such a small amount of money. avoid the bar girls perhaps. there are normal thai girls who come from good families...

The title is not correct,

He is not released but transferred to the Dutch government under the agreement that Dutch nationals can do part of their sentence in the Netherlands.

He has to do the remaining prison time in the Netherlands but adjusted to the Dutch standards for the crime involved.

As his crime is not proven yet in the Netherlands and the possible sentence would be lower then what he got in Thailand he will be most probable released.

But it was a disgrace in the first place to ask the Thai police to start a investigation while there was no charge from the Dutch prosecutor.

 

 

17 hours ago, ukrules said:

He never should have been arrested in the first place. It just shows how backwards and corrupt this place is.

Are you sure?  He's under investigation in Holland for money laundering also.

 

18 hours ago, ukrules said:

He never should have been arrested in the first place. It just shows how backwards and corrupt this place is.

Are you sure?  You known that he hasn't been exonerated and still has to serve time in Holland, yes?

 

 

15 hours ago, ukrules said:

There's nothing wrong with flaunting your legally gained money if you choose to do so.

"legally gained money"?

Are you sure?  From the link...

"He also faces a criminal investigation in the Netherlands for money laundering.  focussing on tax fraud, membership of a criminal organisation and laundering €20m".  
 

I sure he will do something once back,sue them or something else.his assets are long gone and he  knows that,nothing he can do about that.someone or many got more rich by the system  as we know

18 hours ago, ukrules said:

Where is all his money and who owns his property/vehicles now?

The Thai government.  When assets are seized by the government, the government takes control of it.  Perhaps it was included in a government auction.

18 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

At last...

 

A grotesque miscarriage of Thai "justice"-whatever that is.

Really?  So why does have to complete his sentence in Holland?

18 hours ago, Scot123 said:

He made his money legally. His mistake was to flant it. I am shocked and very surprised that he has been released as all his assets have gone (some would say stolen).

"He made his money legally".

Really?  From the OP link,

"Once back in the Netherlands, Van Laarhoven will have to sit out some two years in a Dutch jail to complete his sentence, broadcaster NOS has calculated. He also faces a criminal investigation in the Netherlands for money laundering. ‘The investigation will focus on tax fraud, membership of a criminal organisation and laundering €20m,’ a public prosecution department official said.

Which is the "legal" part?

 

"I am shocked and very surprised that he has been released..."

Well, he's been released to continue his sentence in Holland under the prisoner exchange scheme, he has not been exonerated.
 

Edited January 17, 20206 yr by Just Weird

18 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Everything he was ever accused of happened outside Thailand so his imprisonment was a travesty.

So why does he have to complete his sentence in Holland if it was such a "travesty"?  He was released to Dutch authorities under the prisoner exchange scheme, not pardoned.

16 hours ago, sweatalot said:

years in prison, all his posessions stolen. And that by a country that likes to call itself democratic and his justice system being a justice system. 

 

And it looks like he never will be compensated. Their should be thousands of dollars for each day in prison innocent. Even for that I would not like to bee one hour in a Thai prison.

 

Thailand destroyed his life.

"Their should be thousands of dollars for each day in prison innocent".

What?  He has not been found to be innocent!  He has to complete his sentence in Holland under the prisoner release scheme.

15 hours ago, BritManToo said:

It's good that he's been finally released though.

..to jail in Holland.

5 hours ago, hansnl said:

The Dutch are at fault and can expect a big compensation case.

As he has to serve the rest of his sentence in Holland, and he is still under investigation by the Dutch for criminal activity and money laundering to the tune of EUR20m, I doubt that there will be any compensation.

3 hours ago, ardsong said:

which translated  means , Justice dep. accuses coffeeshop-boss for white wassing of money via financial ghost constructions.

 

For me this indicates he is not free , though he will be not in prison waiting for his trial

"Once back in the Netherlands, Van Laarhoven will have to sit out some two years in a Dutch jail to complete his sentence, broadcaster NOS has calculated. He also faces a criminal investigation in the Netherlands for money laundering. ‘The investigation will focus on tax fraud, membership of a criminal organisation and laundering €20m,’ a public prosecution department official said".

 

Edited January 17, 20206 yr by Just Weird

2 hours ago, Roel said:

Now that he is back in the Netherlands he...

...has to go to jail in Holland, he has not been exonerated.