What started as a simple police error quickly spiralled into a criminal case — ending with a 40-year-old Dutch man in handcuffs.
Authorities in the Netherlands arrested the man after he allegedly demanded “something in return” for deleting confidential police documents he received due to an official mistake. What may have appeared to him as leverage for mistakenly sharing sensitive files for personal gain instead became grounds for his arrest.
How A Simple Mistake Led To Serious Trouble
The incident began on Thursday, February 12, when the man contacted Dutch police regarding images he claimed could assist in an ongoing investigation.
According to authorities, an officer intended to send the man a secure upload link so he could submit the images. Instead, due to an error, a download link was sent, granting the man access to confidential police documents.
Despite what police described as an obvious mistake, the man proceeded to download the files.
Refusal To Delete Files Without “Something in Return”
When officers discovered the error, they contacted the man and instructed him to stop downloading the files and delete any materials he had obtained.
Authorities allege that he refused, stating he would only comply if he “received something in return.” Police interpreted this as an attempt to extort a reward.
On Thursday evening, around 7:00 PM, officers arrested the suspect at his residence on Prinses Beatrixstraat in Ridderkerk for computer hacking. His home was searched, and data storage devices were seized in an effort to secure the confidential files to prevent possible dissemination.
Could It Be Computer Trespass?
In a public statement, Dutch police said that knowingly downloading files from a link that was clearly sent in error could constitute computer trespassing under Dutch law.
“If you receive a download link, while you know that you should get an upload link, it is clearly said that it is not downloaded and chooses to download the files anyway, then you may be guilty of computer trespassing,” the police said.
“The recipient can reasonably assume that the download link and the files that are shared with it are not intended for him.”
No Evidence Of Further Distribution
Police have reported the data breach and launched a formal investigation. So far, authorities say they do not indicate that the confidential documents were distributed beyond the suspect’s possession.
Officials stressed that recipients of misdirected confidential materials have a legal obligation to report the mistake and refrain from accessing or retaining such information — regardless of how it was received.
“The police have no indication that the files were distributed further. They are following protocol for data breaches. The police are continuing their investigation,” the police added.
A Reminder About Handling Sensitive Information
The case underscores how quickly a technical mistake can escalate, and how attempting to exploit such an error can carry serious legal consequences. What began as a routine exchange of information ended with an arrest for computer hacking and an ongoing investigation into a data breach.
As for the suspect, who allegedly sought “something in return,” it turned out to be something far from what he may have expected.
