Dutch Man Faces Fresh Probe Over Alleged Child Abuse During Years in Kenya

Dutch prosecutors are investigating a 74-year-old man accused of sexually abusing children while working in Kenya and possessing child sexual abuse material.

At a hearing in Den Bosch on 24 August, prosecutors said the suspect allegedly abused two girls on multiple occasions and produced child sexual abuse material. Some of the material is believed to date back to 2011. Investigators suspect that some of the alleged offences took place at orphanages where he worked.

Evidence recovered from his seized mobile phone reportedly included communications indicating an interest in young children. The suspect was previously convicted in the Netherlands in the early 1990s for sexually abusing six children. He was sentenced to three years in prison, with part of the sentence suspended.

He later faced trial in Kenya over allegations involving at least 21 children. The case collapsed in 2023 after several witnesses withdrew their statements. Dutch prosecutors suspect that bribery and intimidation may have influenced the withdrawals. However, they acknowledge that the allegations cannot be prosecuted again under Kenyan law.

Dutch authorities are also investigating claims that the suspect possessed child sexual abuse images while in Kenya in 2017. Investigators have requested mutual legal assistance from Kenya to interview witnesses and obtain additional evidence.

The suspect was arrested in May after returning to the Netherlands to renew his passport. He has remained in custody since then. The court has ordered that he remain detained until at least 9 November, when the next interim hearing is scheduled.