Tax officers raid PVV Senator's home in fraud case filed by Utrecht University

The Tax Authority’s investigative department, FIOD, raided the home of PVV Senator and former formation talks leader Gom van Strien in Arcen, Limburg, on Friday morning. The raid was done as part of an investigation into fraud charges filed by Utrecht University, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) told NOS without confirming that it involved Van Strien’s home.

Gom van Strien became famous in the Netherlands in November last year when PVV leader Geert Wilders appointed him to start the Cabinet formation talks after the far-right party’s massive victory in the parliamentary elections. But before he even got started, he stepped down because of fraud allegations.

Utrecht University filed a complaint of bribery and fraud involving one of its subsidiaries, Utrecht Holdings. NRC later reported that the charges were against Van Strien and two other employees of Utrecht Holdings, the university’s knowledge transfer office responsible for setting up companies to bring the university’s discoveries to the market. The proceeds should benefit the university and UMC Utrecht, but according to NRC, some of the money ended up lining Van Strien and a friend’s pockets.

Van Strien resigned from leading the formation talks after the accusations. Wilders said he believed in Van Strien’s innocence, but the two concluded that it was best if he stepped down. A day later, Wilders nominated Ronald Plasterk (PvdA) to take over. The PVV leader also wanted to nominate Plasterk to be Prime Minster, but the former PvdA Minister had to step back because of patent fraud allegations against him from the Amsterdam University Medical Center.

The OM told NOS on Friday that the raid was to collect evidence such as documentation and data carriers. It is the next step in the preliminary investigation. No arrests have been made.