World · Europe · 14 hrs ago
Former Groningen mayor fined €250 again over car incident
A court in Zwolle upheld a €250 fine for Koen Schuiling, the former mayor of Groningen in the Netherlands.
The court found that he masturbated in his car in March 2024, an offence officially described as public indecency.
The ruling came on appeal after a lower court imposed the same fine last year.
Schuiling has consistently denied masturbating and said he loosened his belt and rubbed his stomach because he had pain.
A truck driver’s statement was central to the case; he said he saw Schuiling from his cab, and the court considered his account reliable.
Schuiling was Groningen’s mayor from 2019 to 2024 and left before his term ended.
The appeal court kept the fine at €250, matching the amount sought by prosecutors.
A court of appeal in Zwolle again convicted former Groningen mayor Koen Schuiling of indecent exposure for masturbating in his car.
The court ordered him to pay a €250 fine on Wednesday.
Schuiling has denied masturbating and said he was rubbing his stomach because he had abdominal pain.
The case followed a truck driver’s statement that he saw Schuiling masturbating in his car.
The court, like the prosecution, found the driver’s account reliable.
- Who
- Koen Schuiling, former mayor of Groningen.
- What
- He was again convicted of indecent exposure and fined €250 for masturbating in his car.
- When
- The incident was in March 2024; the court issued its ruling on Wednesday, 14 October 2026.
- Where
- In Schuiling’s car; the appeal was heard by the court of appeal in Zwolle.
- Why
- The court found the truck driver’s account that Schuiling masturbated in his car reliable. Schuiling said he was rubbing his stomach because of abdominal pain.
Koen Schuiling
The court of appeal
Conduct in the car
Koen Schuiling
Schuiling denied masturbating and said he loosened his belt and rubbed his stomach because he had abdominal pain.
The court of appeal
The court found it proven that Schuiling masturbated in his car.
Evidence
Koen Schuiling
Schuiling disputed the allegation and appealed his earlier conviction.
The court of appeal
The court found the truck driver’s account reliable.
The alleged incident in Schuiling’s car took place.
A court imposed a €250 fine, according to NOS.
The court of appeal in Zwolle again convicted Schuiling and imposed a €250 fine.
- Fine
- €250
- Incident date
- March 2024
- Appeal court
- Court of appeal in Zwolle
- Witness
- A truck driver said he saw Schuiling masturbating in his car
3 sources
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