Headlines September
Money laundering investigation: raid on home of Jumbo top executive Van Eerd, 9 arrests
The police and the FIOD raided a home in Heeswijk-Dinther this morning. This was the home of Jumbo top executive Frits van Eerd. There were also searches elsewhere in the country because of an investigation into money laundering, reports the Public Prosecutor's Office. Nine suspects have been arrested in total. A 58-year-old man is the prime suspect. The North Netherlands Prosecutor's Office ordered the raids, a spokesman said. The spokesman left open whether the home of Van Eerd was involved.
'Not aimed at Jumbo'
The supermarket chain says it has taken note of the FIOD investigation. "As we understand it, the investigation is not focused on Jumbo. However, questions are being asked of Frits van Eerd as part of the investigation," reads a statement. The company would not say anything further. According to a Financieele Dagblad source, there has also been a raid on the concern's headquarters in Veghel. A reporter from Omroep Brabant who was on the scene at Van Eerd's home says dozens of people from the FIOD and the police were in and around the house. "They searched a car and they are walking out of the house with moving boxes. It looks like things are being confiscated," he told NPO Radio 1. A little before 1:30 p.m., the search was over. One of the suspects arrested is a 58-year-old man from Aa en Hunze (Drenthe). It is said to be former motocrosser Theo E. from Gasteren. He was previously associated with a key witness in the Willem Holleeder liquidation trial. Sources confirm that E. and Frits van Eerd know each other from the motocross world, which is mainly rooted in North Brabant and the Achterhoek region. One source calls it "a small world where you see each other regularly along the track." E. was also active as a team manager in that world. According to the BD, he supervised a large number of drivers. Some lived at E.'s house, according to the newspaper. Law firm Anker and Anker from Leeuwarden is assisting E.. That office cannot make any announcements about the case at the moment, because the suspect is under restriction. This means that he can only have contact with his lawyer. The 58-year-old is suspected of involvement in laundering large amounts of money and goods and VAT fraud. A further eight suspects have been arrested from Drenthe and Brabant, they too are under restriction. Whether Van Eerd is among those arrested is not known.
Spider in the web
The police and FIOD also raided several homes and business locations in Groningen, Drenthe and Brabant. The money laundering was allegedly done through transactions in real estate, car dealings, unexplained cash deposits and sponsorship contracts in motocross sports, the prosecution claims. The 58-year-old suspect is seen as the "spider in the web," according to the prosecution. The co-defendants are involved in the fraud to a greater or lesser extent, according to the prosecution.
Sponsorship contracts Jumbo
Jumbo sponsors various branches in motocross and motor sports. For example, Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen has a sponsorship deal with the supermarket chain. The concern also says it is putting money into other promising sports talents that "have it in them to grow into a sports icon of society." Two-time world champion in MXGP Jeffrey Herlings has a sponsorship contract with the Veghel-based company. And Frits van Eerd himself participated in the Dakar Rally five times and is co-owner of Racing Team Nederland.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2444425-witwasonderzoek-inval-bij-woning-jumbo-topman-van-eerd-9-aanhoudingen
Groningen aluminum plant stops production due to high energy prices
Damco Aluminum in the Groningen town of Farmsum (near Delfzijl) is stopping production immediately due to high energy costs. According to the company's management, stopping temporarily is the only option "due to skyrocketing energy prices and a lack of government support." The decision has major implications for the approximately 200 employees. The plant has been put indefinitely in care and maintenance, in other words, on pilot light. A small group of workers continues to work to perform essential tasks and to quickly restart production of high-quality aluminum when conditions improve.
Much energy required
Aluminum production requires a lot of energy. Back in October last year, the department where liquid aluminum is produced was shut down. That already cost about 120 jobs. Now the foundry, where purchased aluminum is melted and processed, is also closing down. Damco Aluminium Delfzijl (Aldel for short) was put into operation in 1966 by Koninklijke Hoogovens, now Tata Steel. Aldel is a major employer in the region.
Others also stop
Today the zinc company Nyrstar in Budel, Brabant, also stopped production. Both Aldel and Nyrstar were major consumers of electricity, which, like gas, has now broken all records in price. They will not be the last companies in the Netherlands to limit or stop production, Rabobank economists predicted in a report last month. Among others, the chemical, paper and metal industries will face difficulties, the bank believes.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2442930-groningse-aluminiumfabriek-stopt-productie-vanwege-hoge-energieprijzen
Philips investors want compensation for problems with respirators
Investors have held Philips liable for the stock market value that has evaporated due to the problems with respirators. Investors' association VEB sent a letter about this to Philips last night. According to VEB, Philips has systematically misinformed investors. Earlier, research by American watchdog FDA revealed that Philips had been receiving signals since 2015 that there were problems with the foam particles of the apnea devices. These could potentially cause health damage if inhaled. Investors say it now appears they bought Philips shares for an artificially high price during that period. Had Philips shared the signals earlier they would have made a different assessment, says the VEB.
'16 billion disappeared'
"They swept that under the rug for years, and even when it was known the chairman of the board was able to play down the problems," Gerben Everts, chairman of the VEB said in the NOS Radio 1 Journaal. "That a lot went right and that occasionally something can go wrong. Well, it has gone wrong." According to a VEB calculation, 16 billion in stock market value disappeared as a result of the problems with the respirators.
Recall
The investors' association wants to talk to the company about compensation. Earlier, Dutch patients also held Philips liable for health complaints that may have been caused by the Philips devices. Philips is conducting a recall for 5.5 million devices worldwide. In May, the Health Care and Youth Inspectorate informed Nieuwsuur that the manufacturer was substantially and structurally failing to handle that recall. Philips confirms that it received VEB's letter. The company says it acted correctly and with integrity and they look forward with confidence to any talks with VEB.
For more information about this issue and how Philips communicate https://www.philips.co.uk/healthcare/e/sleep/communications/src-update
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2444304-beleggers-philips-willen-compensatie-voor-problemen-met-beademingsapparatuur
School closed due to data breach after migration to Office
Students of Farel College in Amersfoort have been unable to do schoolwork since Thursday afternoon. The high school is struggling with a data breach after the migration from Google to Microsoft Office. Teaching materials and timetables are not accessible and so the school closes its doors.
Farel College switched from a Google environment to Office 365 at the end of June. Since then, students and teachers have been working with programs such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Documents save them in cloud storage tool OneDrive. ICT service provider Serve it from Harderwijk was involved in the migration. Last Thursday morning, the school discovered a data breach in OneDrive. The leak arose because various files were labeled 'everyone', Rector Gijs van Andel reported to Computable. This label means that the files are visible to everyone. According to the rector, it seems that this mainly concerns general information and teaching materials from teachers.
Denying entry
Immediately after discovery of the leak, it was decided to deny students access to Office. This was done in consultation with the school board and the data protection officer of the school group of which Farel is a part. Because students and teacher cannot work, no lessons will be given until Monday. Parents and students have been informed about this. It also states that 'a number of turnover problems' arose during the migration, 'some of them appear to be persistent'. In the meantime, the school is investigating the extent of the data breach together with the ICT company Serve it. The experts are working to close the leak, a process that was completed this Friday afternoon, according to Rector Van Andel. He says that the school has reported the data breach to the Dutch Data Protection Authority.
Source: https://www.computable.nl/artikel/nieuws/onderwijs/7412256/250449/school-dicht-door-datalek-na-migratie-naar-office.html
The police and the FIOD raided a home in Heeswijk-Dinther this morning. This was the home of Jumbo top executive Frits van Eerd. There were also searches elsewhere in the country because of an investigation into money laundering, reports the Public Prosecutor's Office. Nine suspects have been arrested in total. A 58-year-old man is the prime suspect. The North Netherlands Prosecutor's Office ordered the raids, a spokesman said. The spokesman left open whether the home of Van Eerd was involved.
'Not aimed at Jumbo'
The supermarket chain says it has taken note of the FIOD investigation. "As we understand it, the investigation is not focused on Jumbo. However, questions are being asked of Frits van Eerd as part of the investigation," reads a statement. The company would not say anything further. According to a Financieele Dagblad source, there has also been a raid on the concern's headquarters in Veghel. A reporter from Omroep Brabant who was on the scene at Van Eerd's home says dozens of people from the FIOD and the police were in and around the house. "They searched a car and they are walking out of the house with moving boxes. It looks like things are being confiscated," he told NPO Radio 1. A little before 1:30 p.m., the search was over. One of the suspects arrested is a 58-year-old man from Aa en Hunze (Drenthe). It is said to be former motocrosser Theo E. from Gasteren. He was previously associated with a key witness in the Willem Holleeder liquidation trial. Sources confirm that E. and Frits van Eerd know each other from the motocross world, which is mainly rooted in North Brabant and the Achterhoek region. One source calls it "a small world where you see each other regularly along the track." E. was also active as a team manager in that world. According to the BD, he supervised a large number of drivers. Some lived at E.'s house, according to the newspaper. Law firm Anker and Anker from Leeuwarden is assisting E.. That office cannot make any announcements about the case at the moment, because the suspect is under restriction. This means that he can only have contact with his lawyer. The 58-year-old is suspected of involvement in laundering large amounts of money and goods and VAT fraud. A further eight suspects have been arrested from Drenthe and Brabant, they too are under restriction. Whether Van Eerd is among those arrested is not known.
Spider in the web
The police and FIOD also raided several homes and business locations in Groningen, Drenthe and Brabant. The money laundering was allegedly done through transactions in real estate, car dealings, unexplained cash deposits and sponsorship contracts in motocross sports, the prosecution claims. The 58-year-old suspect is seen as the "spider in the web," according to the prosecution. The co-defendants are involved in the fraud to a greater or lesser extent, according to the prosecution.
Sponsorship contracts Jumbo
Jumbo sponsors various branches in motocross and motor sports. For example, Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen has a sponsorship deal with the supermarket chain. The concern also says it is putting money into other promising sports talents that "have it in them to grow into a sports icon of society." Two-time world champion in MXGP Jeffrey Herlings has a sponsorship contract with the Veghel-based company. And Frits van Eerd himself participated in the Dakar Rally five times and is co-owner of Racing Team Nederland.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2444425-witwasonderzoek-inval-bij-woning-jumbo-topman-van-eerd-9-aanhoudingen
Groningen aluminum plant stops production due to high energy prices
Damco Aluminum in the Groningen town of Farmsum (near Delfzijl) is stopping production immediately due to high energy costs. According to the company's management, stopping temporarily is the only option "due to skyrocketing energy prices and a lack of government support." The decision has major implications for the approximately 200 employees. The plant has been put indefinitely in care and maintenance, in other words, on pilot light. A small group of workers continues to work to perform essential tasks and to quickly restart production of high-quality aluminum when conditions improve.
Much energy required
Aluminum production requires a lot of energy. Back in October last year, the department where liquid aluminum is produced was shut down. That already cost about 120 jobs. Now the foundry, where purchased aluminum is melted and processed, is also closing down. Damco Aluminium Delfzijl (Aldel for short) was put into operation in 1966 by Koninklijke Hoogovens, now Tata Steel. Aldel is a major employer in the region.
Others also stop
Today the zinc company Nyrstar in Budel, Brabant, also stopped production. Both Aldel and Nyrstar were major consumers of electricity, which, like gas, has now broken all records in price. They will not be the last companies in the Netherlands to limit or stop production, Rabobank economists predicted in a report last month. Among others, the chemical, paper and metal industries will face difficulties, the bank believes.
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2442930-groningse-aluminiumfabriek-stopt-productie-vanwege-hoge-energieprijzen
Philips investors want compensation for problems with respirators
Investors have held Philips liable for the stock market value that has evaporated due to the problems with respirators. Investors' association VEB sent a letter about this to Philips last night. According to VEB, Philips has systematically misinformed investors. Earlier, research by American watchdog FDA revealed that Philips had been receiving signals since 2015 that there were problems with the foam particles of the apnea devices. These could potentially cause health damage if inhaled. Investors say it now appears they bought Philips shares for an artificially high price during that period. Had Philips shared the signals earlier they would have made a different assessment, says the VEB.
'16 billion disappeared'
"They swept that under the rug for years, and even when it was known the chairman of the board was able to play down the problems," Gerben Everts, chairman of the VEB said in the NOS Radio 1 Journaal. "That a lot went right and that occasionally something can go wrong. Well, it has gone wrong." According to a VEB calculation, 16 billion in stock market value disappeared as a result of the problems with the respirators.
Recall
The investors' association wants to talk to the company about compensation. Earlier, Dutch patients also held Philips liable for health complaints that may have been caused by the Philips devices. Philips is conducting a recall for 5.5 million devices worldwide. In May, the Health Care and Youth Inspectorate informed Nieuwsuur that the manufacturer was substantially and structurally failing to handle that recall. Philips confirms that it received VEB's letter. The company says it acted correctly and with integrity and they look forward with confidence to any talks with VEB.
For more information about this issue and how Philips communicate https://www.philips.co.uk/healthcare/e/sleep/communications/src-update
Source: https://nos.nl/artikel/2444304-beleggers-philips-willen-compensatie-voor-problemen-met-beademingsapparatuur
School closed due to data breach after migration to Office
Students of Farel College in Amersfoort have been unable to do schoolwork since Thursday afternoon. The high school is struggling with a data breach after the migration from Google to Microsoft Office. Teaching materials and timetables are not accessible and so the school closes its doors.
Farel College switched from a Google environment to Office 365 at the end of June. Since then, students and teachers have been working with programs such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Documents save them in cloud storage tool OneDrive. ICT service provider Serve it from Harderwijk was involved in the migration. Last Thursday morning, the school discovered a data breach in OneDrive. The leak arose because various files were labeled 'everyone', Rector Gijs van Andel reported to Computable. This label means that the files are visible to everyone. According to the rector, it seems that this mainly concerns general information and teaching materials from teachers.
Denying entry
Immediately after discovery of the leak, it was decided to deny students access to Office. This was done in consultation with the school board and the data protection officer of the school group of which Farel is a part. Because students and teacher cannot work, no lessons will be given until Monday. Parents and students have been informed about this. It also states that 'a number of turnover problems' arose during the migration, 'some of them appear to be persistent'. In the meantime, the school is investigating the extent of the data breach together with the ICT company Serve it. The experts are working to close the leak, a process that was completed this Friday afternoon, according to Rector Van Andel. He says that the school has reported the data breach to the Dutch Data Protection Authority.
Source: https://www.computable.nl/artikel/nieuws/onderwijs/7412256/250449/school-dicht-door-datalek-na-migratie-naar-office.html
Translated from Dutch to English with Google translate