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An investigator near the family's remote farm: According to the court, the Austrian made the crimes of the father of the family possible
Photo: Vincent Jannink / EPA-EFE
In the spectacular case of the isolated family on a remote farm in the Netherlands, the Austrian Josef B. was sentenced to three years in prison.
The court found him guilty of deprivation of liberty in Assen.
According to the court, the man had made it possible for the father of the family to keep his children on the farm for nine years, according to a statement.
Dutchman Gerrit Jan van D. had been living with his six children on a remote farm near the village of Ruinerwold in the province of Drenthe for nine years since 2010, without neighbors knowing - totally isolated from the public.
He had founded a kind of pee sect and is also said to have raped a daughter and a son.
Alleged hunger strike in detention
The 61-year-old Josef B. had provided the family with food.
The court ruled that he made the crimes of the father's family possible.
However, he was acquitted of the charge of abusing the children.
Although he is said to have psychologically and physically terrorized his children, the father himself is not being prosecuted.
The court ruled last year that he was not able to stand trial after suffering a severe stroke.
He has not been able to speak since then, and experts came to the conclusion that he was no longer able to follow the procedure.
The children's mother had died years before.
B., in turn, is said to have temporarily gone on a hunger strike while in custody.
After there was no risk of escape or recurrence, he was temporarily free until his trial.
The children have not been known to the authorities over the years, have not been allowed to attend school and have never seen a doctor.
In October 2019, a son asked for help in a village pub.
The children are of legal age today.
apr/dpa