Tomorrow, the trial against celebrated businessman and former Jumbo CEO Frits van Eerd will begin in the Groningen court. How does a man who has everything end up in a criminal case about money laundering, forgery, and corruption?
It’s mid-September 2022 when the gate of an estate in Heeswijk-Dinther, Brabant, opens. Officers from the police and the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) follow a brick path to the farmhouse converted into a residence.
Hours later, they walk out with full garbage bags. Potential evidence. The resident is suspected of corruption, forgery, and later also money laundering. One of the findings is a Jumbo bag with cash. In total, almost 450,000 euros are found.
It is the home of Frits van Eerd, at that time the CEO of Jumbo. A role he took over from his father Karel in 2009, who passed away a few months after the raid. Under the wings of the Van Eerd family, the company has grown into a chain of more than seven hundred stores.
The amount found is a fraction of Van Eerd’s capital, but it is the banknotes that catch the police’s attention. Bills of 200 and 500 euros, which are hardly used in normal payment transactions. Also, the places where the money is found, between the books and in the refrigerator, stand out.
Van Eerd broke promise
The relationship between Van Eerd and Theo E., the main suspect in this case, is also striking. A bond that Van Eerd had sworn was broken in 2014. In that year, Van Eerd was also suspected of money laundering, as the AD discovered, but his status quickly changed to that of a witness.
E. was then the coach of a motocross team sponsored by Jumbo. The sponsorship money was used for something completely different, but without Van Eerd’s knowledge, was the conclusion of the Public Prosecution Service (OM). Jumbo filed a report of fraud against E. and never wanted to do business with the sponsorship relationship again. The former motorcyclist was sentenced to fifteen months in prison for money laundering.
For Jumbo, the case is closed, and Van Eerd stays on. Within the supervisory board of the company and the management, it is agreed that Van Eerd will terminate all contacts with E.
On September 13, 2022, Van Eerd and E. are both arrested. The suspicion bears great similarities to that of eight years earlier. Again, it concerns improper use of Jumbo’s sponsorship money in car and motorsport.
One of the suspicions is that what Van Eerd puts into it, comes back to him in cash under the table. According to the judiciary, it concerns five forged sponsorship invoice contracts. In addition, Van Eerd would have arranged sponsorship contracts for cross teams and drivers in exchange for gifts, such as motorcycles.
Jumbo has now stopped all sports sponsorship.
World of speed always appealed to Jumbo CEO
Van Eerd, born in Veghel, Brabant, has been fond of speed from a young age. First motorcycles and later also cars. In 1985, he sees a Formula 1 race at the Zandvoort circuit for the first time and immediately falls in love. Especially with the yellow-black Minardis, whose color yellow later also adorns the Jumbo logo.
He throws himself wholeheartedly into the world of fast cars. With money from Jumbo, he supports Max Verstappen, who is still karting. But he is also active himself. In 2006, at the age of 39, he becomes national rally champion. He participates in the 24 hours of Le Mans, and pending his criminal case, he participated in the Dakar Rally last year.
In 2017, Van Eerd says in an interview with the AD that without motorsport he would never have become a successful entrepreneur. “Then I wouldn’t have learned to look for the edges of how far you can go to make something a success,” said the Brabander.
Driving is one of his passions, he tells Ivo Niehe in the TV Show. It gives him energy. Just like playing trumpet in the party orchestra Factor 12, with which he stands on stage in the Johan Cruijff ArenA together with the Toppers. Van Eerd also has two carnival songs to his name.
Van Eerd says he can explain everything
So close to the substantive hearing, the question remains how Van Eerd ended up in this situation. According to his lawyer Robbert Jonk, there is nothing wrong. The money found can easily be justified by people around Van Eerd who bought things from him and paid for them in cash. That is why Van Eerd also refrained from a settlement with the OM.
The now resigned CEO of Jumbo says he can’t wait to tell his side of the story in the courtroom. Three days have been set aside for the trial.