CHAPTER 9
9-4 KLM
As this company is well known on the islands, I want to quote some articles that came on my path.
It’s obviously not so smoothly on this island and we see more and more that all these multinationals
are on one line, even in the underworld. Yep, and then something is leaking, is annoying but we are
going to use bullying tactics.
9-4a Investigation into corruption KLM Bonaire swept under the carpet
“The name of KLM CEO E. within a period of one week, popped up twice, but not in a positive way.
First, NRC Handelsblad cited him in a staggering story of (mis) behavior of CDA politicians in Bonaire.
And short after, Het Financieele Dagblad reported the establishment of an anti Eurlings action group,
notably within his own KLM.”
“NRC Handelsblad according to editor J.D. , described how a CDA prominent H.H. supports the local
politicians in Bonaire. Including politicians suspected of corruption. Together with his CDA party
member W.S., the former Minister of Defense H. claims a lot. He is paid well for all kinds of lobbying
and fly business class like his life depended on it.”
“H. as CDA senator, advocated, later turns out with two roles, the renovation of the airstrip in Bonaire.
Cost: 12 million euro. Quickly fixed by another CDA member; C.E. the former Minister of Transport and
Water Management. On his famous smooth manner he ignores the corruption stories which are taken
seriously by others in Bonaire, and has paid 12 million euro. Salient detail: Eurlings himself has a roomy
controversial holiday villa in Bonaire, which is a bit more comfortable to reach thanks to the new runway
(and therefore valuable).”
“From the generosity that characterized him as a Minister, is little to trace at KLM CEO E. This time he
keeps his purse strings tight. He wants the European flights from our ever national pride in a few years to
fly only by cabin crew of KLM subsidiary C. Because there they have significantly cheaper working
conditions than the regular KLM employees. Employment Unions and workers are angry with E. (BOE)
and take action.”
“Former government minister Eurlings, recently subtle dismissed as merciless by Emirates CEO Clark
in the FD, remains above all the man of window dressing and little vision. Especially the guy who let our
KLM national pride be emptying by Air France. And that while KLM, since taking over, has made
3 billion profits and Air France incurred losses of 800 million euro. The KLM staff never had more reason
to revolt! ‘C. E., your luggage will be removed’! “
“In 2010, the Department appears to have halted an investigation into corruption and bribery of KLM
in Bonaire. The Dutch magistrate F.V. appears to have closed prematurely the investigation file. This is
evident from documents at NRC Handelsblad. It is remarkable that this investigation was concluded
prematurely. Two other studies about suspect gold transactions and mortgage fraud did go on.
Earlier this week we wrote an article about KLM CEO C.E. in which the management in Bonaire was
discussed. “
“An investigation codenamed Zambezi was started in 2009. It was an investigation into government
corruption in Bonaire. The Department also knew about the payments to the leader of the then ruling
Christian Democratic UPB, R.B., and his right-hand man Bu. El H. According to the OM (Public
Prosecutor) time constraints would have caused the premature closure of the investigation file.”
“In 2001 R.B. arranged low kerosene rates for KLM and a costly renovation of the airport of Bonaire.
For, at that time KLM had a big conflict with the government of Curacao, the airline looked for an
alternative ‘landing place’ in the Antilles. Because the airport of Bonaire was not suitable for large
planes that had to make a stopover in the Antilles, it was favorable to KLM that the airport of Bonaire
was modified. So it seems very suspicious that the KLM ‘helped’ the local political parties with the
renovation of the airport of Bonaire.”
“Witnesses have stated that a part of the supplement, that KLM had to pay to the airport, per gallon
(3.7 liters) of kerosene via supplier US Coastal, would be repaid to R.B. Former Director KLM P.H.,
a good friend of R.B., would return a favor to his friend by giving him and his family and friends, free
tickets for business class. Justice then found that Mr. Booi indeed excessively made use of KLM
business class, between 2008 and 2011 he would have flight no less than 237 times using the
‘KLM service.”
KLM of course denies in every possible way, to be involved in corruption and bribery.
Source: http://www.waarinholland.nl/
9-4b Supplement
The Zambezi case is now closed, and the Public Prosecution had enough shortcomings to let everyone
go unpunished. In popular speech it is a case which proved that money can buy anything, and that
seems also to be proved. Our players were clearly no angels but then you need a watertight proof.
And that’s where the Prosecution went wrong, or perhaps deliberately wrong.
Because, I can’t stop thinking that here it is a matter of deliberately keeping spaces in order to evade
the whole. The Public Prosecution Service has played a strange role in this case and I still see it as
that quite a few people have been put severely under pressure to leave these spaces on purpose for
a lawyer to find out these things to the last detail. Mr. Knoops saw these “gaps” and took full advantage.
And so we come back at the uninspired line: justice is money, money is justice.
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