Ex-PVV Hague councillor sentenced

Arnoud van Doorn, Hague council member, party leader for the Islāmic Partij van de Eenheid (PvdE), and former PVV member, was sentenced to a 1,000 euro fine for selling weed to minors, leaking confidential information, and possession of a weapon. He also heard a conditional community service sentence of 40 hours against him. The prosecution demanded 6 months imprisonment; community service was deemed inappropriate because of Van Doorn's position as active council member.

The journalist who received the confidential information was also on trial for stealing the documentation, but he claimed he assumed Van Doorn had meant for him to take the documents all along. He was acquitted of stealing. Because of this acquittal, the court could not prosecute Van Doorn for complicity in the theft of confidential information. The council member did confess to selling weed to minors between July and October 2012, but claimed he was doing so to find out who the real dealer was. The judge condemned his choice of action, especially since he's supposed to be a role model. The court also considered proven beyond any doubt the PvdE party leader had a loaded alarm pistol under his bed. 'He did not consider the safety risk a loaded gun imposes,' according to the court. The court concluded Van Doorn seems to keep his own set of rules and that he seems to think 'he can decide which rules to follow.' The former PVV member is not at all phased by the sentence and Tweeted that his fine was paid by a sponsor. He stressed that the community service was conditional, so as far as he was concerned, it was back to business as usual. The Hague council member used to be a PVV member, but he left the party, turned to the Islam, and is now a council member for the Islāmic PvdE. The party is fine with him staying on as a council member, despite his conviction. It is unknown whether Van Doorn will appeal the court's verdict.