Netherlands To Prosecute Dutch Coffeeshop Owner Imprisoned In Thailand

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Netherlands To Prosecute Dutch Coffeeshop Owner Imprisoned In Thailand

By Janene Pieters

 

The Dutch Public Prosecutor is prosecuting four executives of coffeeshop chain The Grass Company for fraud, money laundering and participation in a criminal organization. One of those to be prosecuted is former owner Johan van Laarhoven, who is currently serving a 73 year prison sentence in Thailand for money laundering through the coffeeshop, ANP reports.

 

The other three suspects are Van Laarhoven's brother, a 57-year-old man from Tilburg and a 57-year-old man from Bladel. The first hearing in this trial is scheduled for September, the Prosecutor announced on Tuesday. The investigation into the coffeeshop chain started in 2011, initially on suspicion of human trafficking and possession of large stocks of hard drugs. The judiciary has a list of about 60 suspects, according to the news wire.

 

According to the Prosecutor, The Grass Company intentionally bought cannabis at too high prices in relation to the market price. The higher amount was paid so that part of the money can be laundered, a spokesperson explained, according to ANP. The profit made by selling the cannabis was therefore also higher than reported ot the tax office. "They did pay taxes, but 25 million euros too little", the spokesperson said. 

 

Full story: http://nltimes.nl/2017/07/04/netherlands-prosecute-dutch-coffeeshop-owner-imprisoned-thailand

 

-- NL TIMES 2017-07-05

[darksidedog]

Given that Mr. van Laarhoven is currently serving a 73 year sentence, it seems they are going to have to wait a little while before they can have their crack at him. I wonder what the statute of limitations is in Holland for fraud and money laundering?

[Lammbock]

1 minute ago, darksidedog said:

Given that Mr. van Laarhoven is currently serving a 73 year sentence, it seems they are going to have to wait a little while before they can have their crack at him. I wonder what the statute of limitations is in Holland for fraud and money laundering?

His sentence got reduced to 20 years or less.

[janclaes47]

We soon gonna hear again about how this so honest man, against which the Dutch government couldn't lay any charges, is in Jail only because he earned his money in a honest way.

[Tilacme]

How is he supposed to defend himself.

[robblok]

7 minutes ago, Tilacme said:

How is he supposed to defend himself.

That is what his lawyer is saying.. read the full link. Would be good if he is exchanged from Thailand to Holland then its easier for him to defend himself. 

[jvs]

He will be out of Thailand after he has served four years here.

They will put him on a plane to Holland where he can try to explain

where all of his money came from.

No doubt some of it was legal but i am sure the Dutch government will

have enough evidence against him.

 

[greenchair]

What is the market price for canabis? 

Isn't it like the market price for prostitution? 

Up to the seller. 

Better quality is higher price. 

The evaluater of the meaning of quality is up to the seller and the buyer. 

How do they really know the grass was overpriced? ???

[Laza 45]

23 minutes ago, Lammbock said:

His sentence got reduced to 20 years or less.

He would be lucky to survive another 20 years in a Thai prison.. it would be the rest of the crew that they would be after now..

[jvs]

1 minute ago, greenchair said:

What is the market price for canabis? 

Isn't it like the market price for prostitution? 

Up to the seller. 

Better quality is higher price. 

The evaluater of the meaning of quality is up to the seller and the buyer. 

How do they really know the grass was overpriced? ???

Large quantities will be grown on a contract,do you have any idea how big some of these plantations are?

He is required to the tax department to show his books and they will just compare with other coffee shops.

Not easy to run a legal drugs organisation these days.

[Bluespunk]

35 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

We soon gonna hear again about how this so honest man, against which the Dutch government couldn't lay any charges, is in Jail only because he earned his money in a honest way.

No. 

 

You will hear about a man who was gaoled in Thailand despite not breaking any laws here or in the Netherlands at the time of his incarceration.  

 

He still has not been found guilty of anything. 

 

If he is later found guilty of these charges in the Netherlands then he will face gaol there. 

 

That will still not justify the travesty of justice he suffered here.

 

He has, as yet, not been convicted of anything in the Netherlands. And as such, broke no laws here. 

Edited July 5, 2017 by Bluespunk

[Bluespunk]

14 minutes ago, greenchair said:

What is the market price for canabis? 

Isn't it like the market price for prostitution? 

Up to the seller. 

Better quality is higher price. 

The evaluater of the meaning of quality is up to the seller and the buyer. 

How do they really know the grass was overpriced? ???

They have suspicions and have taken 6 years to build a case. 

 

However, he still has not been found guilty and, until he is, his earnings must be considered legitimate. 

[Lemonltr]

18 minutes ago, jvs said:

He will be out of Thailand after he has served four years here.

They will put him on a plane to Holland where he can try to explain

where all of his money came from.

No doubt some of it was legal but i am sure the Dutch government will

have enough evidence against him.

 

You could well be right. But one thing is sure - his money will stay here. Yummy yummy...

[Dipterocarp]

State prosecutors can always concoct a charge of tax evasion "indict a ham sandwich " if they want. Getting a conviction is something else.

[steven100]

55 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Given that Mr. van Laarhoven is currently serving a 73 year sentence, it seems they are going to have to wait a little while before they can have their crack at him. I wonder what the statute of limitations is in Holland for fraud and money laundering?

how old will he be when he gets out ..... 

[thaiguzzi]

Jeez. How to kick a man when he's down...

[greenchair]

33 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

They have suspicions and have taken 6 years to build a case. 

 

However, he still has not been found guilty and, until he is, his earnings must be considered legitimate. 

So, what is the market price for canabis? 

[quadperfect]

He is getting screwed by the thai system. Maybe this is a ploy by the netherlands to get him out of thailand . Free the poor guy . Since they fail to do so on proper grounds.

[Bluespunk]

48 minutes ago, greenchair said:

So, what is the market price for canabis? 

No idea. 

 

Like all crops I guess it varies, depending upon availability and demand. 

[greenchair]

3 minutes ago, Bluespunk said:

No idea. 

 

Like all crops I guess it varies, depending upon availability and demand. 

That's my point. It does not have a difinitive price as such. 

Therefore how can they say too much was paid. 

Availability, demand and quality of crop could be added in. 

The prosecutor would need to have all those numbers before deciding too much was paid. 

[Bluespunk]

18 minutes ago, greenchair said:

That's my point. It does not have a difinitive price as such. 

Therefore how can they say too much was paid. 

Availability, demand and quality of crop could be added in. 

The prosecutor would need to have all those numbers before deciding too much was paid. 

Yes, as I said, it's taken 6 years to build a case.  I'm assuming a lot of thought and hard work has gone into bring these charges. 

[NoBrains]

Funny how Thailand works, he did nothing wrong in Thailand and still they throw him in Jail.
Now they hearing alot of inspectors in the Netherland  , van Laarhoven aswell wrote a letter to the Dutch King ,  and something went wrong in the communication between Dutch and Thai authorities that they throw him in Jail,  normaly they get be deported back to the home country.   Dutch Authorities says that Thailand not respond on requests.

[than]

555555

 

And some people find it unfair to sue him in Thailand because he was the owner of a coffee shop. But it seems that the Dutch authorities have some charges against him.

 

Drugs (including cannabis) are officially illegal in the Netherlands. But Dutch legislation distinguishes between hard drugs (which are forbidden to distribute, sell, produce or possess) and "soft drugs" (including cannabis).

The sale of cannabis (or its purchase) remains illegal, but burglaries are not pursued: the police prefer to target large traffickers who sell hard drugs rather than look for hazards to small consumers with a few grams of grass on them provided To respect the 5 golden rules adopted by the parliament in 1996 (see below)

 

Coffee shops in Amsterdam
Legislation
Coffee shops are places where cannabis and marijuana derivatives can be purchased and consumed; They are simply tolerated, and governed by strict rules.
5 Rules: (Act passed by Parliament in 1996)
1. No Hard Drugs
2. No advertising,
3. Respect for public order
4. Prohibition on sale to minors
5. Not more than 5 g sold per transaction and per person
Licenses are no longer renewed in the event of closure, as the municipality wants to reduce the number of coffee shops by at least half.

 

In general in Nederlands, avoid smoking cannabis on the street. It is very badly seen by local people.

[than]

33 minutes ago, NoBrains said:

Funny how Thailand works, he did nothing wrong in Thailand and still they throw him in Jail.
Now they hearing alot of inspectors in the Netherland  , van Laarhoven aswell wrote a letter to the Dutch King ,  and something went wrong in the communication between Dutch and Thai authorities that they throw him in Jail,  normaly they get be deported back to the home country.   Dutch Authorities says that Thailand not respond on requests.

Thai Law B.E 2527 Legislation Procedure for Co-operation between States in the Execution of Panel Sentences specifies that applications for transfer shall be considered only for detainees:
• Not possessing Thai nationality
• Having acquitted or being pardoned for the fine and damages set by the court.
• Not having been convicted of a crime of lese-majeste.
• Having executed 4 years of detention or one third of their sentence (at most favorable for the detainee). This period shall be extended to 8 years for any life sentence of a drug offense.
In addition, the Thai authorities will only agree to a transfer if, on the day of the commission, the remaining penalty is more than one year.

[fxe1200]

I could imagine, that the Netherlands made up these accusations, just to have reason for an extradition request. Then back in the Netherlands he would go free, and the charges dropped.

[Wildliferescue]

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Given that Mr. van Laarhoven is currently serving a 73 year sentence, it seems they are going to have to wait a little while before they can have their crack at him. I wonder what the statute of limitations is in Holland for fraud and money laundering?

He can apply for serving the rest of his sentence after 8 years in jail in Thailand. He might want to stay here instead....

[Chip Allen]

6 hours ago, jvs said:

He will be out of Thailand after he has served four years here.

 

Four years in a Thai prison is like fifty in civilized countries. The death penalty would be far more merciful.

[Chip Allen]

1 hour ago, than said:

Thai Law B.E 2527 Legislation Procedure for Co-operation between States in the Execution of Panel Sentences specifies that applications for transfer shall be considered only for detainees:

• Not having been convicted of a crime of lese-majeste.

In addition, the Thai authorities will only agree to a transfer if, on the day of the commission, the remaining penalty is more than one year.

Amazing how the Lese Majeste offense is deemed to surpass all other offenses and circumstances. Logic worthy of an Islamic Mullah.

[Minnehaha]

6 hours ago, Bluespunk said:

No. 

 

You will hear about a man who was gaoled in Thailand despite not breaking any laws here or in the Netherlands at the time of his incarceration.  

 

He still has not been found guilty of anything. 

 

If he is later found guilty of these charges in the Netherlands then he will face gaol there. 

 

That will still not justify the travesty of justice he suffered here.

 

He has, as yet, not been convicted of anything in the Netherlands. And as such, broke no laws here. 

I am missing something. Maybe I need to read more about this ...

But the article and comments dance around some gaping holes. 

Lets say he did break laws in NL. How is that breaking laws here? He could be jailed by interpol or Thai police who have arrangement with NL but that is not breaking any Thai laws. 

 

Another thing . Nowadays growing cannabis in the USA is so closely controlled they have supply traceability down to the freaking plant! It is almost like dna. 

 

Also if you are money laundering, why the fk would you cheat on taxes? Stoopid mistake. 

[little mary sunshine]

7 hours ago, Tilacme said:

How is he supposed to defend himself.

Probably has millions stashed!