Probe launched into Soest election fraud allegations

The Prosecutor’s Office is opening an investigation into the alleged election rigging activities by Soest PvdA candidate Osman Suna.

“(We) have decided to open a pilot factual investigation into the possible irregularities with ballots by the PvdA in the municipality Soest,” the Office stated today. The investigation comes after PowNews on Monday aired footage that showed Suna encouraging the congregation of a mosque to bring him the ballots of voters who were not planning to cast their votes. “(We) can then have someone else vote on your behalf. It would be a pity to let all those votes go to waste,” he is heard saying of video footage shot of him secretly. PvdA-leader Hans Spekman has agreed that Suna’s behavior looks much like election fraud and that if that is confirmed, he would ask the Soest candidate to withdraw. The Prosecutor’s Office said it was formally informed of the irregularities on Tuesday by the mayor of Soest. “After meeting with the mayor, the Prosecutor’s Office discussed the matter with the Election Council and decided to open the pilot investigation.” The investigation will be carried out by detectives from the National Police Internal Investigations Department and should show whether there Suna’s actions were indeed a violation of the Dutch criminal code and election laws.