The trial around the controversial face mask deal between Sywert van Lienden’s company and the government started on Monday morning amid great interest in the court in Amsterdam. Van Lienden and his business partners Camille van Gestel and Bernd Van Damme were present, along with their lawyers, former employees of the Stichting Hulptroepen Alliantie (SHA), and other interested parties.
Dutch news outlet De Correspondent is suing the Public Prosecution Service (OM) for allegedly eavesdropping on a conversation between three of its journalists and individuals involved in a controversial 100 million euro deal involving the sale of face masks to the Dutch government during the coronavirus pandemic.
Investigators looking into any criminality in the Dutch government's controversial deal to acquire face masks via the Relief Goods Alliance (RGA) spied on a meeting between Sywert van Lienden, his business partners Bernd Damme and Camille van Gestel, and three journalists from De Correspondent. The meeting took place in March 2022 at Hackfort Castle in Vorden, and the use of eavesdropping equipment was approved by the Public Prosecution Service (OM), according to Damme's lawyer, Han Jahae. The attorney confirmed earlier reporting by the Financieele Dagblad.
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