A court in Utrecht will begin hearing witnesses on Tuesday into claims the former most senior civil servant at the justice ministry was a paedophile.

For the first time, witnesses will give evidence under oath about the rumours which have plagued Joris Demmink for years, Nos television says. He has always denied the claims.

The Utrecht trial is a civil procedure and not connected to the public prosecution department’s decision in January to launch a formal criminal investigation into Demmink and claims he abused several boys.

Precaution

Tuesday’s hearings were initiated by a foundation named De Roestige Spijker to collect evidence in case Demmink starts legal proceedings against it, Nos television says.

The foundation has the distribution rights to an American documentary about Demmink entitled Dutch Injustice, which it plans to circulate in the Netherlands. Demmink has said he will take action against the foundation if it goes ahead.

The list of witnesses includes a former boy prostitute, two detectives who did research into youth prostitution networks, a former justice ministry official, two former prison directors and a private detective.