The public prosecution department on Tuesday called for jail terms of up to seven years in a massive fraud and corruption case involving property transactions.

The scandal centres on the sale and development of property by the Philips pension fund and developer Bouwfonds and represents the ‘biggest case’ in the history of the Fiod-ECD economic crime investigation department.
Chief suspect and property developer Jan van Vlijmen faces seven years for his role as the ‘head of a criminal organisation’ which was involved in ‘money laundering and bribery’, the department said.
Other defendents face four or five year terms for their role in the affair. Corruption and bribery involving the directors of the Philips pension fund and project developer Bouwfonds are thought to have cost their employers a combined €250m.
Market rates
The scandal came to light in 2007 when it emerged pension fund bosses had been taking bribes in return for passing on confidential information and had bought and sold property at below the market rates. The fraud had been under way since at least 1995.
So far, a number of the biggest players have reached out of court settlements and will avoid a trial.
This January, a deal was reached over the involvement of building firm Trimp & Van Tartwijk. The deal included fines of up to €1.5m for the firm, personal fines, and a 120 hour community service sentence for company director Harm Trimp.
Last June The Hague property developer Harry Hilders reached a €40m out of court settlement with the justice ministry and Philips pension fund in connection with his role in the fraud. Van Vlijmen has also agreed to pay €75m out of court.
At least 12 other suspects in the case have also reached settlements totalling €3.7m and involving short community service sentences.

Phone taps
The investigation involved tapping 70,000 telephone conversations, as well as secret surveillance of meetings at the Mövenpick hotel in Den Bosch.
The probe came to a head in November 2007, when over 600 police and officials were involved in raids all over the country. People were arrested in 67 different locations.
In total, eleven people heard the public prosecution department outline its sentencing demands on Tuesday. The case continues.