Stamp fraudster Jurgen L. from Geleen is going to jail for 4.5 years for the biggest stamp scam in Dutch history.
His accomplice Dimitri W. from Maasmechelen was given a 32-month sentence by the court in Maastricht on Tuesday. The sentences are higher than the demand the duo heard from the prosecution two weeks ago.
'Millions of fake stamps'
Despite the high sentences, the court reduced the defendants' sentences because the case took so long to come to trial. The fraud came to light in 2011. A total of 200,000 fake stamps were intercepted, although it was never clear how many fake stamps the two put into circulation. According to the prosecution, the counterfeit stamps involved were possibly millions. The fraud prompted PostNL to declare the old guilder stamps all invalid.
Sold but not printed
According to the court, the main suspects only sold the stamps, and were not responsible for printing them. However, the court did find it proven that the two were also guilty of money laundering and participation in a criminal organization.
Alarm bells
In addition to the two main suspects, L.'s mother was also convicted. She was given 180 hours of community service because some of the money was siphoned off through her bank accounts. According to the court, all alarm bells should have gone off when she saw the large sums of money on her bank statements. Instead, she kept quiet.
More scams
The father also received a prison sentence. He must serve 27 months for his part in money laundering, and additionally for bankruptcy fraud and defrauding an insurance company. For the latter offense, a fifth defendant received 240 hours of community service and five months of probation.
Exoneration
The sister and ex-wife of the Geleen prime suspect were both acquitted. They were also members of the man's criminal organization, according to the prosecution, but the court did not go along with that.
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With counsel (Mr. S.J.F. van Merm), the court is of the opinion that there is insufficient legal and convincing evidence
