Severe penalties for potato fraud

The Belgian potato processor Lutosa has been scammed by 3 potato suppliers. They tampered with the weighbridge. The fraud was exposed by a private investigator.

While a load of potatoes was being weighed, the next truck drove onto the weighbridge with its front wheels. Sometimes the supplier also put a forklift or tractor on the weighbridge. As a result, on paper, many more potatoes were delivered than were actually in the truck. The Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad reports that Lutosa has been defrauded for a total of €350.000.

Heavy penalties
3 potato suppliers and 2 former employees of Lutosa have been found guilty by the court in Kortrijk of tampering with the delivery of potatoes. The employees took money from the suppliers to put the extra weight on the weighbridge. The most severe punishment was for a supplier from Opwijk. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and a €40.000 fine. The fraudulent employees were given prison sentences and community service.

Jurphaas Lugtenburg

He is a market specialist in grains and other agricultural commodities at DCA Market Intelligence. He also focuses on onions, potatoes, and roughage. Jurphaas also runs an arable farm in Voorne-Putten (South Holland).

j.lugtenburg @boerenbusiness. Nl

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