The Public Prosecutor’s Office demanded a two-year prison sentence, eight months of which are conditional, on Tuesday against Frits van Eerd, the former CEO of supermarket chain Jumbo and long-time former sponsor of Max Verstappen.
According to the prosecutor, Van Eerd is guilty of money laundering and forgery, and has allowed himself to be bribed. In addition to the financial damage, the Public Prosecutor’s Office also holds him accountable for the reputational damage he has caused Jumbo. Furthermore, the Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses Van Eerd of apparently directing friends and acquaintances who gave unreliable witness statements.
Van Eerd, a major motorsport enthusiast and collector of old Formula 1 cars, was arrested in September 2022 and held for several days, after which he resigned as CEO of Jumbo. His arrest was part of an investigation into Theo E., who is on trial for tax fraud, bribery, and forgery. A four-year prison sentence was demanded against him.
During the search of Van Eerd’s house and workshop, the Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office found nearly 450,000 euros in cash in a refrigerator, among other things. The Public Prosecutor’s Office suspects Van Eerd of having laundered a large part of that money.
According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Van Eerd also received gifts in exchange for sponsorship contracts for motorcycle racing teams, which were arranged by co-defendant E. The amount of sponsorship money from Jumbo that was on the invoices did not entirely go to the sponsored teams. Van Eerd has consistently denied all allegations.
