It was, according to Frits van Eerd, an oversight that he had to declare almost half a million euros in cash to the Tax Administration. The businessman spoke of an innocent mistake in court in Groningen on Monday.
It was telling of the conversation in the courtroom: the judge confronted the former Jumbo executive with the fact that certain things raise questions, Van Eerd said he understood that, but at the same time he denied that he had done anything criminal. This also applied to the tax declaration.
The origin of the 448,000 euros in cash is another example. The 100, 200 and 500 euro bills were spread around his workshop, in envelopes between books and in a Jumbo bag in the refrigerator. “If I had known that I had to testify about it in court, I would have put it somewhere else, but it is legal. Nothing more than that,” said Van Eerd.
But even statements that support that story raised questions. The total of twelve statements come from friends and family members who say they have traded with Van Eerd and that they have paid in cash, for example for motorcycles and cars.
Certainly one statement was drawn up by Van Eerd’s secretary and then signed by a witness. According to the businessman himself, he did not interfere with the content of the statement. It would have happened this way because the person in question was not good with words. The witness stated that the statement was drawn up in Van Eerd’s presence, but the former Jumbo executive could not remember that.
A sale of a Bentley for 330,000 euros was done for 80,000 euros in cash, but the invoice only stated 250,000 euros. The court wanted to know why this happened. Van Eerd explained that it was a private sale, that he was doing business with someone he knew well and that they had agreed on it that way.
In the case of the sale of another car, the purchasing party says they never did business with Van Eerd, in whose name the car was also not registered. But the businessman said that the proceeds of 62,000 euros did end up with him. A good friend arranged the sale, but the Audi was really his, said Van Eerd.
‘What the media write is truly unprecedented, so unfair’
The question of where the money comes from plays an important role in the case, because the Public Prosecution Service (OM) suspects that it has a criminal origin. The Public Prosecution Service thinks that Van Eerd cooperated with co-defendant Theo E.
From intercepted conversations it can be deduced that Van Eerd arranged Jumbo sponsorship contracts with certain motocross teams, that E. received commission on this and that Van Eerd received money or goods in return, such as motorcycles. That was denied by Van Eerd.
The Brabander called the impact of the case on his person “enormous”. Van Eerd said he still doesn’t understand any of it. He understands that the file raises questions, but maintained that he has always acted in good conscience.
“What the media do and say and write is truly unprecedented,” said Van Eerd. “Pushing someone into the abyss like that. It’s so unfair and there’s absolutely no evidence.”