September 23, 2022
16:06
Arrested last week in connection with a money laundering case, the CEO of Jumbo, Frits van Eerd, will – temporarily – step aside.
Suspected in a money laundering case, Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo CEO Frits van Eerd temporarily steps downannounced this Friday the group and his family.
“It’s in Jumbo’s interest and it also allows Frits to focus fully on your personal situation“, the Dutch supermarket chain and the CEO’s family said in a joint statement, adding that the decision had been taken “after extensive consultation with his family and the supervisory board”.
The director of the largest supermarket chain in the Netherlands, which sponsors successful athletes, such as reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen, was released last Sunday after several days in custodybut remains a suspect in the case.
The name of his substitute will be communicated “soon”, according to the press release of the group. The name of the former CFO of Jumbo, Ton van Veen, would circulate. In the meantime, the supermarket chain will be led by its financial director Peter van Erp and its operational director Cees van Vliet.
Last week, the Dutch media reported, with video support, a search of the home of Mr. van Eerd.
Sponsorship contracts questioned
Dutch authorities announced last week the arrest of nine people and several searches in a money laundering case. The media then reported, with supporting video, a search of Mr van Eerd’s homealso known for being a motorsport enthusiast, who took part in the Paris-Dakar five times.
The laundering would have been done through real estate transactions, car exchanges, unexplained money deposits and sponsorship contracts in the sport of motocrossaccording to the prosecution, which also raised a suspicion of VAT fraud in the motor trade.
The main suspect in the investigation, a 58-year-old man from Aa en Hunze (northwestern Netherlands), is still in custody. The other suspects have been released.