Two British investment companies Apax and Candover are locked in a battle for ownership of PCM, the publisher of Dutch daily newspaper De Volkskrant, NRC Handelsblad, Algemeen Dagblad and Trouw. The Belgian Persgroep is no longer in the running, sources have indicated. The choice between the two British companies — which will gain about a 65 percent share of PCM should the deal go ahead — will probably be made within a few days.

Youths face detention for group rape

The prosecution has demanded a sentence of 24 months youth detention, of which four months would be suspended, against a 16-year-old suspect of a group rape in Amsterdam last October. Two other suspects, aged 16 and 15, face 18 and 12 months respectively. The trio forced their way into an Amsterdam East apartment, where a girl and six boys were home alone. The three suspects were allegedly involved in the rape of the girl and forced the other boys to participate. The suspects allegedly filmed the crime. The court will hand down its ruling mid-April.

Electrical mast collapse causes toxic scare

The collapse of a high tension electrical mast on to train tracks at Beek in the Limburg province damaged a pipe and caused the release of an unidentified substance on Tuesday. Fire brigade officials said they were trying to verify if the pipe was connected to the factories operated by chemical company DSM in the area and if the substance was dangerous. The accident led to the suspension of train travel between Sittard and Maastricht.

Teacher killer in court on 15 April

The 16-year-old killer of school teacher Hans van Wieren will appear in court in The Hague on 15 April, the prosecution said on Monday. The case will be presided over by a children’s court judge and will thus be heard behind closed doors. Murat D. has confessed to shooting and killing Van Wieren, 49, at the Terra College in The Hague in January. The court must still decide if he will be sentenced based on youth or adult law. Two alleged accomplices will appear in court on 16 April.

PvdA leader Halbertsma resigns

The leader of Labour PvdA in Amsterdam, Tjalling Halbertsma, has resigned. He said the recent sex scandal and resignation of PvdA Alderman Rob Oudkerk was not the reason for his departure. Instead, it had delayed his departure. Halbertsma will remain a member of the Amsterdam Council until a replacement is found.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Dutch news