Eurosonic Noorderslag employee embezzled 335,000 euros

Showcase festival Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) files a complaint against an employee who has stolen a total of 335,000 euros from the cash register. The organization of the Groningen festival reports this on Wednesday. The survival of ESNS is not in danger, according to director Dago Houben. The employee has pleaded guilty and has agreed a repayment arrangement with ESN for the entire amount.

The fraud came to light this summer after a report from the bank about questionable transactions. When ESNS checked the books, it turned out that the employee has been funneling money in several ways since November 2019. For example, he transferred small amounts to gambling sites, made transfers to accounts managed by him and withdrew calling credits. By changing names for bank transfers, among other things, he concealed the real nature of the transactions. The size of the stolen amounts increased significantly in the last months until the discovery in July 2021. With the money, the employee paid for his gambling addiction, for which he is now being treated.

After he was confronted with the fraud, the employee immediately pleaded guilty and was immediately fired by ESNS. He has promised that the entire amount will be refunded, half of which will be paid in the next six months. However, the festival organization “because of the size and the public function of ESNS” reported to the police on Wednesday. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and other subsidy providers were also informed about the fraud.