New Hans V. sexual abuse case exposes cross-border risks to children

Today, the first preliminary hearing in the new criminal case against Hans V. took place at the District Court in ’s-Hertogenbosch. Terre des Hommes Netherlands attended the hearing and will continue to follow the case closely.

During the hearing, the charges against Hans V. were presented. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service suspects him of several serious sexual offences allegedly committed in Kenya from 2011 onwards. According to the indictment, these include multiple acts of sexual violence, the production of child sexual abuse material during two separate periods, and a sexual offence in Kenya in August 2025.

Hans V. was not present at the hearing. The allegations against him remain under active investigation.

Arrest following his return to the Netherlands

Hans V. was previously convicted in the Netherlands of child sexual abuse and later moved to Kenya. There, he again came to the attention of police and judicial authorities over allegations of sexual abuse involving underage girls. In 2018, he was arrested in Nairobi. That case ultimately did not result in a conviction.

During the hearing, the Public Prosecution Service explained that Dutch authorities had previously been involved in a criminal investigation into V. in Kenya. Information from that investigation remained available.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, V. travelled to the Netherlands this year to renew his passport. He was arrested in Amsterdam on 18 May. His phone was seized and now forms part of the ongoing criminal investigation.

The examination of the phone is ongoing. According to the Public Prosecution Service, material found on the device is being further investigated and efforts are underway to identify potential victims. During the hearing, the public prosecutor described the findings as serious and shocking.

The current allegations are being dealt with in a new criminal case and are separate from his previous convictions.

Victims and survivors at the centre

During the hearing, explicit attention was given to their position and to the importance of careful legal proceedings that seek to deliver justice for victims and survivors.

“The impact of child sexual abuse can last a lifetime. Victims and survivors have the right to recognition, appropriate long-term support, and legal proceedings in which their interests are taken seriously,” says Mickey Andeweg, Children’s Rights Spokesperson at Terre des Hommes Netherlands.

A case that has crossed borders for years

In 2019, Terre des Hommes investigated his activities in Kenya. Information from that investigation was shared at the time with the Kenyan authorities and with a Dutch police team investigating Dutch sex offenders abroad.

The case also prompted political questions in the Netherlands at the time about the supervision of convicted sex offenders who move abroad. Since then, several measures and forms of international cooperation have been developed or strengthened.

The new criminal case underlines the importance of ensuring that information about previous convictions, investigations and known risks remains available over time and can be used across borders. When someone moves between countries, authorities need to be able to connect relevant information and act in a timely manner when children may be at risk.

“The fact that information from earlier investigations can still be relevant to a new criminal investigation years later shows how essential effective international cooperation and long-term follow-up are,” says Andeweg. “When someone has previously been convicted of child sexual abuse, relevant information needs to remain available so that risks can be properly assessed. Particularly when that person has access to children, authorities need to understand the known risks and what measures are necessary to protect children.”

Terre des Hommes Netherlands calls for the consistent application of existing child protection measures: long-term supervision where legally possible, the timely and lawful cross-border exchange of relevant risk and conviction information, appropriate risk assessments when known sex offenders travel internationally, and effective oversight of institutions where children live or stay.

Terre des Hommes will continue to follow the case

Terre des Hommes Netherlands will continue to follow the criminal proceedings against Hans V. closely. The position of victims and survivors, the support available to them and their access to justice will remain central. At the same time, we will continue to examine the broader lessons this case may hold for the protection of children in the Netherlands and internationally.

Updates on the criminal proceedings and Terre des Hommes’ positions will be published through our Dutch and international channels.