Criminal investigation launched into leaks from Amsterdam mayoral appointment committee

The Rijksrecherche, the department that handles internal investigations at government services in the Netherlands, launched a criminal investigation into information leaks from the confidential committee responsible for the appointment of a new mayor of Amsterdam, NU.nl reports.

The chairman of this committee, Johnas van Lammeren (PvdD), reported an information leak early in May following a story by De Telegraaf containing information about how the committee held consultations, among other things. 

On behalf of the Public Prosecutor, the Amsterdam police conducted a fact-finding investigation and questioned the 12 members of the committee. The results of this investigation justify a criminal investigation into the leak, the Prosecutor concluded and asked the Rijksrecherche to take over.

Among other things, investigators will look at recent media reports, like one earlier this week when the Telegraaf revealed that GroenLinks politician Femke Halsema and PvdA politician Carolien Gehrels are two of the three final candidates to be the new mayor of Amsterdam.

Leaking information in the procedure of appointing a new mayor to a Dutch municipality is a punishable offense. Commissioner of the King Johan Remkes also stressed this before the application procedure started.