Father accused of forcing teenage son into cybercrime faces 15-month jail sentence

Prosecutors have recommended a 15-month prison sentence for 50-year-old Ersan A., who is accused of forcing his son to engage in cybercrime. The son, who was a minor at the time, was convicted last year after threatening to carry out a shooting in Zaandam.

In April 2023, when he was 15, the boy sent an email threatening a shooting to Pascal Zuid vocational school in Zaandam, including photos of firearms. The school was closed for a day as a precaution. He was later sentenced to partly suspended juvenile detention and community service for the threat, as well as several cybercrimes including helpdesk fraud.

Prosecutors allege that the father either forced his son to commit crimes or knew that the boy was making tens of thousands of euros by defrauding people online. The mother also benefited from the alleged exploitation, according to the Public Prosecution Service. Prosecutors are seeking a 200-hour community service sentence for her on a money laundering charge.

“The parents encouraged their child to earn money through crime so they could spend it on luxury goods,” the prosecutor said. The Zaandam family used the proceeds to buy items including garden furniture, jewelry, watches, perfume, a coffee machine and a car. The father reportedly visited the barber three times a week, while the family also used the money to pay for vacations.

The Public Prosecution Service alleges that A. laundered more than €127,000, while his ex-wife laundered over €56,000. Appearing in court in Haarlem, A. said he believed his son made money through gaming and e-sports. He also said he had little knowledge of computers himself.

The boy told police that his father had ordered him to commit the crimes, according to the prosecutor. The Public Prosecution Service said numerous messages exchanged between the two also support this claim, with the father referring to his son as a “bitcoin gangster.” In one message from March 2023, he wrote: “When we reach 120k, we’ll buy a Rollie together.” The term “Rollie” is slang for a Rolex watch.

The father should have been more critical and asked more questions, his lawyer acknowledged. He genuinely believed his son was earning money through gaming until the teenager was arrested. The lawyer said the son made the same claims during his initial police interviews and called for his client to be acquitted.

According to the defense, none of the messages exchanged between between father and son show that the teenager was involved in cybercrime. The father and his now 18-year-old son are no longer in contact.

The court will issue its ruling on August 25.