Junior justice minister Fred Teeven was under fire on Wednesday after a television current affairs show revealed a deal he struck with master criminal Cees H in 2000, while he was a public prosecution official.

Nieuwsuur revealed Teeven had approved an agreement with H to launder millions of euros stashed in a Luxemburg bank account. The tax office was not informed about the deal.

Nieuwsuur said at first sight the deal appeared to involve H handing over €750,000 to the authorities. But it also involved the justice department paying some €5m back to H, who has drugs convictions.

Bizarre

‘This is a settlement between the public prosecution department and someone who has tax obligations. The agreement specifically states the tax office would not be informed,’ tax law professor Jaap Zwemmer told the programme. ‘This is bizarre and against all the rules of law.’

The terms of the deal do not make it clear why the state agreed to launder the money but it may have been done in return for information about other crime bosses. However, H’s lawyer told Nieuwsuur this is not the case.

It is also notable that Teeven did not ask his superiors’ permission to make the deal.

Law

However, Teeven’s current boss, justice minister Ivo Opstelten, said Teeven’s actions were in line with the law. Teeven, now in charge of immigration and asylum, has no reason to fear for his job, Opstelten said.