Two more local VVD politicians are under investigation for possible corruption, the NRC says on Tuesday.

Piet Ploeg, a former alderman in Stichtse Vecht, and Rob Bats, the former mayor of Haren, are the subject of an inquiry by the public prosecution department in the east of the country, the paper says.

The investigation is connected to the probe into VVD councillor Kathalijne de Kruif who is currently in custody in connection with corruption, money laundering and trading marijuana. She resigned from the party on Tuesday.

The NRC says the two men’s names came up in connection with the investigation into De Kruif. Both are suspected of attempting to influence the naming of a new mayor of Stichtse Vecht in favour of Bats.

The NRC says De Kruif is suspected of passing on confidential information about the interview procedure for the mayoral job to Ploeg who in turn informed Bats.

The VVD has declined to comment.