The Hague cemetery worker arrested over alleged theft from graves and money laundering

A 60-year-old cemetery employee in The Hague is suspected of stealing items from graves and money laundering. The man was arrested on May 26, the Public Prosecution Service announced on Wednesday.

According to investigators, the suspect worked on grave excavations and clearances at The Hague’s municipal Kerkhoflaan cemetery. During that work, he allegedly removed valuables such as jewelry and gold dental fillings from graves and later sold them to a precious metals trader.

According to prosecutors, the arrest was initially kept confidential to avoid interfering with the investigation. The suspect is expected to be released soon and will remain free while the case continues. The Public Prosecution Service said continued pretrial detention is not considered necessary for the ongoing investigation.

The Hague’s municipal executive said it was deeply shocked by the allegations. “This suspicion must be horrifying for the relatives of those buried at this cemetery,” it said in a statement. “We can imagine that this case also has an impact on other residents and employees of the Municipality of The Hague.”

The Hague municipality said it will first wait for the results of the ongoing criminal investigation before launching an independent external review. To assist concerned relatives, the city has also set up a dedicated phone line and email address where people can seek information and ask questions about the case.