Father of 19 accuses "unscrupulous" kids of lying about abuse
Henk K., a father of 19 kids from Bunschoten, denies all charges of abuse against him. According to him, his "unscrupulous, lying and labile" children made up the abuse claims to get back at him for charging them with theft from their parental home, the 58-year-old man said in a pro-forma hearing in the court of Utrecht on Monday, according to AD reporter Marco Willemse tweeting from the courtroom.
K. was arrested in September last year after some of his children accused him of abusing them. Among other things, he is suspected of holding a running chainsaw at his son's throat, choking another son, striking his children with a piece of wood and locking them up in the attic or garage. There is also suspicions of fornication with an 11-year-old daughter. The family was previously in contact with various aid agencies, including for not sending their children to school and abuse.
The children who pressed charges against K. no longer have contact with their mother and siblings who support K.
"Only nonsense is told about my family", K. said to the judge. He accused the police, judiciary, municipality and authorities of lying about him. None of his children are at home any more, the still underage ones were removed. "My wife can not see her minor children, she can not even send them a letter."
The court remanded K. back into custody.