Healthcare directors arrested in €4 million fraud investigation

Two directors of healthcare agencies in the Zaanstad and Tilburg region were arrested on suspicion of fraud with the personal healthcare budgets of disabled young people. According to the Public Prosecutor, they are suspected of fraud and forgery involving around 4 million euros, ANP reports.

The personal healthcare budget is an amount of money paid to someone in need of care, so that he or she can arrange the care they need themselves. In this case, the young people involved gave their DigiD, bank cards and associated PIN codes to the healthcare agencies. Since 2012, the directors declared more healthcare treatments than were actually given for dozens of young people. Money from the personal healthcare budgets were also used for non-care related things like rent and groceries.

The healthcare agencies involved in this ccase provide housing and care for young people with minor physical and mental disabilities and young people with severe psychiatric disorders.

The Public Prosecutor seized homes, cars and bank accounts as part of the investigation. In addition to the two arrested directors, two other executives were questioned. Five organizations are also supsects in this case. The investigation was launched late last year following a tip from the municipality of Zaanstad.