Fmr. PVV leader faces embezzlement charge for cocaine allegations

Michael Heemels, the former leader of the Limburg PVV, will definitely be prosecuted for embezzlement. The investigation into him is still ongoing, so more charges may be added, the Public Prosecutor in Maastricht said to broadcaster NOS. Heemels resigned as leader of the PVV in Limburg's provincial council and as spokesperson for Geert Wilders after it became known that he embezzled money from the party's accounts. He himself stated that he used the stolen money to help pay for his drug and alcohol addiction. Based on an account summary in the hands of Dagblad de Limburger, this indeed seems to be the case. According to this summary, Heemels embezzled a total of 175 thousand euros, 90 thousand of which he took in cash. The rest was spent on what looks like a luxury life - VIP tickets to a Madonna concert, engagement rings, trips to New York and Vienna, furniture and many electronic gadgets. Heemels also used the money to pay for speeding tickets, taxes and bailiff costs. Heemels embezzled the money between 2012 and early 2016. The money was paid to the party by the province and was intended for, among other things, training for politicians or to pay for meetings. Very little of those type of activities appear in the account summary, according to the Limburger. The former PVV faction leader still has to comment on the summary. His lawyer, Tim Farber told the newspaper that "now is not the time to react". He also has the summary in his possession. "We will firs give a reaction to other involved parties. We are currently also busy with our own investigation, to see what is true and what not."