Former chief investigator of ombudsman suspected of violating official secrecy and computer hacking

Bernadette Verheggen, the former chief investigator for the Amsterdam ombudsman, is under investigation for allegedly breaching official secrecy and committing computer hacking. These accusations stem from police raids conducted on August 19 at her home and vacation property, during which authorities reportedly seized electronic devices. The investigation is linked to the unauthorized leaking of a confidential draft report concerning the city's Bureau of Integrity, an organization tasked with handling internal municipal complaints.

The controversial report, which criticized the function of the Bureau of Integrity, was never officially published after intervention from Mayor Femke Halsema. The mayor had expressed significant concerns regarding the report's methodology and lack of procedural fairness. While Halsema faced criticism regarding the matter, she has publicly denied any involvement in the police investigation, stating that the criminal complaint was initiated solely by the ombudsman's office. Both Verheggen and her legal counsel have declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.