Rotterdam police officer arrested for sex crimes was working with church youths
A police officer working in Rotterdam was arrested his week over allegations he perpetrated several sex crimes involving different victims. The 34-year-old man was taken into custody on Monday at his home in Altena, Noord-Brabant. He was identified by regional broadcaster Rijnmond as an accomplished organist working with Reformed Churches to assist young people struggling with homosexuality.
Some of the victims in the case are minors, Rijnmond reported, and the adults and children who came forward as victims had been in contact with the suspect for assistance in dealing with their sexual orientation. Four different victims have pressed charges against the man, the Public Prosecution Service said on Thursday. He is also facing a charge of violating rules regarding the handling of confidential information.
He previously told religious newspaper Reformatorisch Dagblad about his own difficulties with homosexuality, and that he felt like he was straddling two worlds. While his police colleagues were generally accepting of him being gay, his religious community felt otherwise, he said last July.
After at least one victim came forward, the man was suspended in August from his work at the Rotterdam police district's Operational Center for what police described as a potentially criminal act which took place outside of work hours. "The officer is suspected of sexual offenses, and breach of his official secrecy," the OM wrote in its update this week.
An examining magistrate reviewed the case against the man on Thursday. The suspect was remanded to jail for the maximum period of 14 days ahead of his arraignment. The next hearing will be held before three judges at a district court, who can order the suspect to remain in pre-trial detention for up to 90 days at a time.
The criminal case is being investigated by the sex crimes division of the Zeeland-West-Brabant police district, and that district's internal affairs division. The case is also being handled by the OM based in that district.
Police officers and other civil servants are required to protect the private information of individuals and the confidential details related to investigations which they can access in their professional roles. This information cannot be accessed, disclosed or shared without authorization.
