The former boss of supermarket group Jumbo faces prosecution for corruption and forgery, and may face money laundering charges, according to a public prosecution department statement, published on Tuesday afternoon.

The investigation into Frits van Eerd, whose home was first raided by police in 2022, is still ongoing, the department said. Van Eerd resigned in March 2023 after stepping down in September 2022 when allegations against him first surfaced. 

Nine people were arrested in total, including Van Eerd and a 58-year-old man from Aa en Hunze in Drenthe who is suspected of being involved in corruption, forgery and VAT fraud.

Prosecutors said at the time the investigation focused on transactions in real estate and cars, unexplained large cash deposits, and sponsorship contracts in motocross. Jumbo sponsored the Dutch Masters of Motorcross event.

Van Eerd and the other main suspect, Theo E, will appear in court in September. The case against some of the others involved in the investigation has been dismissed while others have been offered an out-of-court settlement, the public prosecution department said.

The Financieele Dagblad, which broke the news of his arrest in 2022, said Van Eerd’s lawyers have confirmed the court hearing and that he is “looking forward” to clearing his name. 

Talks about an out-of-court settlement collapsed last month, the lawyers said, because Van Eerd would have been required to admit guilt and would then have a criminal record. The department declined to comment on the claim. 

Much of the case is thought to depend on €445,000 in cash found in Van Eerd’s home during the raid, including many €500 notes.

“We have shown that the money has a legal origin and comes from business colleagues who bought cars and motorbikes from him and paid in cash,” the lawyers told the FD. “They have also made written statements to this effect.”