Two sentenced to four years jail for long-term abuse of clients at Groningen care farm

The Court of Appeal in Leeuwarden has sentenced two defendants to four years in prison for years of abuse and humiliation of clients at the former care farm Aurora Borealis in Wedde, Groningen. Paul W. (65) and his son-in-law, Michel K. (38), were also banned from their profession for nine years.

In July of last year, the court handed down sentences of five years and four months to the two men for the physical and mental abuse of ten residents. During the appeal, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) recommended eight-year prison terms.

The prosecution had intensified the charges, citing a victim who sustained serious physical injuries and continues to experience post-traumatic symptoms, requiring ongoing treatment, the OM said last month.

The Court of Appeal, however, found that it could not be confirmed that the abuse resulted in severe physical harm. Unlike the lower court, the appellate court also concluded that not all alleged acts could be proven and that some did not legally qualify as abuse. The court did determine that a small number of the abusive acts were committed deliberately.

The court determined that most of the acts constituted abuse. “Severely disabled and vulnerable residents were subjected to systematic humiliation and mistreatment over several years. The victims were completely reliant on care and unable to protect themselves,” the ruling stated. “The professional context in which the abuse took place makes the case even more severe.”

K. and W. were both the owners and acted as managers and caregivers. They also encouraged employees to mistreat and humiliate residents. The court noted: “The defendants are accountable for all instances of abuse, even those they did not personally carry out. They established the ‘company culture’ of punishment and humiliation and transmitted it to the other staff members.”

The mistreatment at the care farm was exposed by Alberto Stegeman’s SBS6 show Undercover in Nederland. The facility was soon shut down following the revelations.