AMSTERDAM–Former Dutch Police Chief Gerard Bouman, who was at the centre of a row over works council expenses, has died, broadcaster NOS said on Monday.
Bouman suffered a serious heart attack while on vacation in New Orleans in June and has now died in hospital in the Netherlands at the age of 64, NOS said.
Bouman headed the Dutch Police from 2013 to 2016. The publication of the long-awaited report into irregularities within the Police’s central works council was delayed when Bouman was taken ill.
The council resigned en masse in November 2016, following criticism of the way in which the council spent its budget on dinners, parties, champagne breakfasts and image coaches.
The council’s former chairman Frank Giltay was responsible for much of the overspending and is facing criminal charges. Giltay had the support of Bouman who was also investigated for his role in the scandal.
NOS said last month the final report clears Bouman of attempting to buy the works council’s support for his police reorganisation plan by turning a blind eye to the overspending. It does, however, say Bouman failed to properly supervise the council.
Bouman also was not without controversy on the islands. He was very critical of the way in which the Police Force of St. Maarten KPSM and the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force KPCN operate.
The Police Chief made headlines in August 2015 after a report on his visit to St. Maarten in July that year was leaked. Bouman made clear during his visit that he did not want to cooperate with the St. Maarten Police Force and the local Government due to alleged corruption. “The criminal undermining of society and the integrity issues are of extremely worrisome proportions,” stated Bouman at the time. The remarks led to an emergency meeting in The Hague late August 2015.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/68121-former-police-chief-bouman-dies-after-serious-heart-attack
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