Minister Ferd Grapperhaus (Justice and Security) will still be fined for violating the one-and-a-half meter rule at his wedding, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) confirms Friday after reporting from various media. He will also receive a note on his criminal record.
Minister Ferd Grapperhaus (Justice and Security) will still be fined for violating the one-and-a-half meter rule at his wedding, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) confirms Friday after reporting from various media. He will also receive a note on his criminal record.
The OM reports that the decision was taken by the Board of Procurators General. Grapperhaus was informed on Thursday and has announced that it will pay the fine.
The minister says not to have asked for the fine. He also says that he understands and respects the decision of the Public Prosecution Service. Because of the fine, he gets a note on his criminal record. According to Grapperhaus, whether that is possible as a minister is up to the House of Representatives.
A few days after his wedding on August 22, the minister apologized for the violation of the corona rules. “A minister in particular must always set a good example”, he wrote at the time.
Grapperhaus issued a written statement after photos of his wedding surfaced. It showed that his guests were not keeping enough distance from each other at all times. Later, photos also appeared showing that the minister had physical contact with several guests during the party.
Publication of photos prompted the fine
The OM reports that the publication of the photos was the reason for the fine. “The OM believes that imposing the fine serves the credibility of the enforcement of the corona rules, of which the Minister of Justice and Security is the figurehead.”
The fine for violating the corona measures is 390 euros. The minister and his wife both transferred that amount to an aid organization last month. They did this after there was a big fuss about the course of events surrounding the wedding party in Bloemendaal.
