On Wednesday, the court in Amsterdam sentenced 39-year-old SK from Hoorn to 5.5 years in prison for defrauding event company A9 Studios in Uitgeest, forging documents and laundering 2.7 million euros. The sentence is one year higher than the court in Haarlem imposed on it in 2017. SK must also repay 5.4 million euros to A9 Studios.
Very refined
According to the court, in 2014 and 2015, the suspect defrauded the family business A9 Studios in a ‘very refined and ingenious manner’ during a period of more than eighteen months. He pretended to be the manager of great artists, such as Anouk, Marco Borsato, Dotan, Kensington and international artists such as Chris Brown. He could arrange performances from those artists.
Three-phase system
He also worked with a three-phase system. A9 Studios had to pay increasingly higher advances and would be refunded the overpaid amount after the performance. SK used false e-mail messages and drew up false invoices. A large part of the performances he suggested never took place. The prepaid money has largely not been refunded, but has disappeared. The man from Hoorn was also guilty of using a false civil sentence.
Luxurious life
The family business A9 Studios was financially bankrupt after paying millions to the suspect. With the money that SK put in his pocket, he lived a life of luxury. For example, he bought expensive cars, jewelry, luxury watches and other luxury goods, such as Louis Vuitton items. Although the court in Haarlem previously sentenced him to pay damages of three million euros to A9 Studios, the court has reached a higher amount of money: 5.4 million euros.
Long duration
The Public Prosecution Service demanded 6 years in prison on appeal. The court sentenced him to 5.5 years in prison. The sentencing takes into account the length of the trial.
