Sheriff Gaming confirms it is clear of Dutch prosecution
News on 29 Jun 2013
News on 29 Jun 2013
The Dutch prosecution on money laundering and other allegations of the Gregoire brothers and Stijn Flapper, which made headlines in the Dutch media recently saw a sequel this week, when Sheriff Gaming confirmed that its parent Bubble Group BV, which had been named in early media coverage, is no longer a suspect in the case.
Answering a press enquiry from Friday, Sheriff Gaming’s sales and compliance manager, Ellen Flapper, responded:
“On basis of the information provided to the lawyers as appointed by Bubble Group BV, (which inter alia consists of written communication with the public prosecution department), I can confirm that Bubble Group B.V. is not designated as a suspect in this investigation.
“Since no other formal information is provided by the public prosecution department, Bubble Group decided not to send out a press release in the media.”
Sheriff Gaming had earlier contacted clients to advise that it had been cleared of any wrongdoing.
Our readers will recall that towards the end of last (May) month Bubble Group premises in Eindhoven and Best Geldrop were visited by Dutch police and prosecutors, with three Dutch men reportedly under investigation – brothers Michel and Maurice Gregoire, and Stijn Flapper, CEO of Bubble Group BV.
Little more has been officially released on the investigation, which reportedly involved 150 officers from the Dutch Prosecuting Authority (Openbaar Ministerie), the gaming authority KSA (Kansspelautoriteit) and the tax authority.
The enquiry reportedly centres on allegations of drug trafficking, money laundering and illegal gambling.
Bank accounts have been frozen, assets seized and seven online casinos were also shut down, namely AmsterdamsCasino, AmsterdamsPoker, JackpotRed, TripleGold, Golden10Casino, Tanzoo and FruitLuck. Dutch law currently prohibits foreign online gambling operators from targeting Dutch players.
Stijn Flapper has proclaimed his innocence of any wrongdoing throughout, and he has distanced himself from the business activities of Michel Gregoire, with whom Flapper set up Teletick in 2004.
The Alderney Gambling Control Commission later confirmed that it had commenced a special investigation “to confirm that the basis on which Bubble Group BV and its sponsors were approved remain correct.”
