Source: REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
[Saba Sports News] Dutch media reports that Fritz Van Elder, the former CEO of the Dutch supermarket chain Jumbo and a former sponsor of Max Verstappen, is facing money laundering charges. This decision was made by the Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office during a pre-trial hearing at the court in Assen on Monday. Van Elder did not appear in court, and his lawyer, Robert Jones, explained to the court that he could not make any substantive comments yet as this was a pre-trial hearing. Van Elder is known in the racing world as a long-time loyal sponsor of Verstappen and is also the initiator of the “Jumbo Racing Day” at Zandvoort, having been active in the racing scene for many years. According to media reports, during a raid on Van Elder’s residence in Brabant Heusden-Dinte, €448,000 in cash was found in a cold storage unit in his private office. This raid was part of a large-scale money laundering investigation, with former motocross racer Theo E. being the main suspect. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Theo E. is charged with tax fraud, forgery, and unofficial corruption.