So far 12 people have signed up to take legal action against three men who earned millions of euros from a controversial deal to sell face masks to the government, while claiming they represented a charitable organisation.

The 12 all worked as volunteers for the foundation Stichting Hulptroepen Alliantie, set up by television pundit and civil servant Sywert van Lienden and his business partners Bernd Damme and Camille van Gestel.

However, it later transpired that the trio had set up a private company after winning a €100m government order, and that the face masks were bought and sold under its auspices, netting Van Lienden €9m and the others €5m each.

Earlier this month lawyer Peter Plasman said five people who worked for the foundation were starting legal action against Van Lienden and the others, and now seven more have joined in.

In addition, donations have been piling up to pay for the court case. Comedian Youp van ‘t Hek has  pledged to hold a benefit show to raise money.

Van Lienden has refused to return the money to the state, and says he wants to donate the money to a cancer research charity.

Meanwhile, the 40 million face masks which Van Lienden imported remain in a warehouse because they are both surplus to requirements and there are concerns about their safety.