PvdA Councillor Steals 40,000 from Homeless
THE HAGUE, 09/10/13 - Utrecht Labour (PvdA) council member Bert van der Roest has used tens of thousands of euros from a foundation for the homeless to line his own pockets. He resigned Tuesday with immediate effect.
The council member was treasurer of a foundation which is the publisher of Straatnieuws, a paper that is sold on the street by the homeless. According to Broos Schnetz, chairman of the foundation, Van der Roest embezzled some 40,000 euros. He used the largest portion of this sum to finance a theatre production. The rest of the money was spent on a Greek island, at Schiphol and on his bar bill in a café. The disgraced council member himself admits to “careless dealing with the financial management.” He has been given one year to pay back the money. If he has not done so, the foundation will take him to court. |