The Tilburg derived from Johan van Laarhoven did not accept the prison sentence imposed on him in Thailand. This was reported by his lawyer Sidney Smeets at broadcasting Brabant.
The founder of coffee shop chain The Grass Company was last week sentenced to a prison sentence of 103 years, of which he must serve at least twenty years.
He received the punishment for the laundering of money he had earned in the Netherlands, with the sale of soft drugs. His wife got twelve years in prison for complicity. "The court finds that the money comes from a crime, because the sale of cannabis is prohibited in Thailand," says lawyer Smeets behalf Spong Lawyers. "Thai court therefore ignore the Dutch tolerance policy."
The ruling according to Smeets far-reaching consequences for other coffee shop owners. "If this verdict will stand, then walk all Dutch coffee shop owners risk." This also applies to operators from other countries where soft drugs are sold, such as the United States, Uruguay and Spain.
In the Netherlands Van Laarhoven was never convicted. The Dutchman started 35 years ago, The Grass Company in Tilburg. After retirement, he moved to Thailand, where he last year in response to a request from the Dutch public prosecutor was arrested. Meanwhile, he is stuck over a year.
Lawyer Gerard Spong said earlier that he believes that the Prosecution has played a highly dubious and misleading role in this case.
http://nos.nl/© ANP
Reactie plaatsen
Reacties