Former justice ministry civil service chief Joris Demmink has lost his claim against the AD newspaper which published an article about his alleged contacts with a child pimp.

The AD does not have to rectify its claims nor pay Demmink damages, the court ruled. He had demanded €100,000.

The AD reported on the alleged contacts in October 2012, based on three different eye witnesses. The paper also quoted another source as saying boys had been picked up in Demmink’s car. The former ministry chief has always denied claims he was a paedophile.

The court said the AD had done its research properly and given Demmink the opportunity to refute the charges. The interests of society in raising the issue of potential crimes is more important than the interests of Demmink himself, the court said.

The paper says it is relieved by the ruling, which did not address whether or not Demmink had used the services of a child pimp.

The public prosecution department is currently investigating claims made by two Turkish men who say they were abused by Demmink as boys. The department was ordered to look into the claims after the men went to court to force an inquiry.