Broadcaster editor steps down over sex crime case against son, accused of raping 11 kids
Andrina Hadderingh has officially resigned as chief editor of Omroep Gelderland, the broadcaster’s director, Marco Paans, announced on Thursday. Hadderingh already temporarily stepped down in September last year after it became known that her son was suspected of raping 11 children and sexually assaulting three others.
Hadderingh’s son was arrested in December 2024. He is suspected of raping and sexually abusing children while working as an intern at a swimming pool in Zelheim between late August and early December 2024. The victims were between the ages of 4 and 6 at the time.
According to De Gelderlander, it was agreed at the time of her son’s arrest that Hadderingh, who was substantively responsible for all the broadcaster’s journalistic stories, would not engage professionally in the case against him. But that proved impossible at a preliminary hearing against the man.
During the preliminary hearing on July 15, GeenStijl noticed that Omroep Gelderland reporters and Hadderingh separately attended the hearing. The blog looked into it and revealed Hadderingh’s connection to the suspect two weeks later.
Omroep Gelderland employees told De Gelderlander in an anonymous letter that the news came as a complete surprise to many of Hadderingh’s colleagues. Even more so because two other Omroep Gelderland workers are also involved in the investigation, as family members of one of the victims.
In September, nine months after her son’s arrest, Haddering stepped down temporarily. In practice, it proved too complicated to maintain the desired and necessary separation between work and private life, director Paans said.
Now, the editor-in-chief is making a permanent departure, by mutual agreement, Paans said. He wrote that the past period has been “personally challenging” for Haddering. After 25 years at the broadcaster, she wants to focus on new challenges.
A second preliminary hearing against the 21-year-old suspect happened on Tuesday. In addition to the rape and child sex abuse charges at the swimming pool, the man is also suspected of committing indecent acts with a 6-year-old girl in Hengelo and possession of child sex abuse footage.
During the hearing, the man’s lawyer argued that the file contains no evidence that his client actually sexually “penetrated” the children, ANP reported. The suspect did not attend the hearing. He is awaiting his trial in freedom, under conditions.
The date for the trial is not yet set, but it is expected to last several days. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) expects to need at least half a day for the closing arguments. And the parents of 13 victims wish to exercise their right to speak. Their lawyers will also wish to explain their claims for compensation.
