WILLEMSTAD - Former Prime Minister Gerrit Schotte of the political party MFK urgently needs money. No less than 1.8 million guilders that he must pay to the Public Prosecution Service (OM) within ten days and that is ultimately intended for the crime fund.
According to Schotte in a video posted on social media, he does not have that money now that he has just been out of prison for a year and is trying to get his life back on track. In this video, the former prime minister asks for financial support.
“This is a very personal video. Please listen. I'm trying to pick up my life again and do what I'm good at, I create, generate, I'm good at finances and provide stability, I execute and implement. I appeal to you, my sympathizers. Because if I don't pay, I'll have to go to jail for another three years. Usually, a payment arrangement can be made, but that does not apply to me,” he explains in the message.
He also calculates that if 100 people pay 18,000 guilders, he will have the sum of money needed. With 200 people it costs 9,000 guilders per person.
"God will double whatever you give for you and your family," he promises.
He ends his message by giving his bank account number. The money that Schotte has to pay comes from the Babel confiscation case. Schotte – who was prime minister from 2010 to 2012 – has been convicted of official bribery, forgery, and money laundering. The verdict was confirmed on appeal in July 2018.
"God will double everything you give for you and your family," Schotte promises