Five police officers suspected of involvement in bribery and corruption in connection with a contract to buy new police cars were suspended on Tuesday afternoon.

The suspected officers, including one senior official, had been given new roles while an investigation was carried out.

Police chief Gerard Bouman told Dutch media on Tuesday he had decided to suspend the officers because the investigation had brought ‘new information’ to light. He did not give details.

The case dates back to 2010 and centres on a Volkswagen importer who won the contract to supply 13,000 cars.

Critics

Several companies who hoped to win the contract voiced criticism of the purchasing procedure. They said the conditions for the purchase were such that the choice had to fall on the Volkswagen importer.

Justice minister Ivo Opstelten has now ordered a new tendering process because there appears to have been ‘a breach of integrity’.

Questions are also being asked about other tendering processes, including breathalysers and radio telephones.