,A partner at a renowned law firm in Amsterdam, is recognized for his considerable expertise in complex litigation, particularly in the realm of information law. He asserts his proficiency in reputation management, serving a clientele that includes and .

The latter initiated a SLAPP lawsuit against FinTelegram through Thijm and other attorneys, prompting discussions regarding the motivations and consequences of this legal confrontation.

Dirk-Jan Bakker and Rudolf Booker share a common history. Booker, who founded and previously led the controversial high-risk payment processor Payvision, has consistently been at the centre of disputes. His company Payvision was implicated in laundering funds for various fraudulent operations tied to Veltyco Group PLC. Lenhoff became a reseller for Payvision, securing another cybercrime entity as a client for the payment processor.

Dirk-Jan Bakker was involved in Amsterdam’s real estate and gambling sectors, serving as a business associate of Lenhoff, as well as a co-founder and second-largest shareholder in Veltyco.

In 2020, Barak was found guilty of investment fraud and money laundering, with his schemes funnelling tens of millions in illicit funds through Payvision.

Furthermore, Vistra Group, which Bakker operates as a sole proprietorship, established offshore companies such as those associated with Lenhoff, which were subsequently used to run fraudulent trading platforms.

Lenhoff and Bakker’s venture, Veltyco, conducted marketing for these deceptive platforms and drew in victims. Lenhoff asserts that Bakker was involved in the operational management, which led to his departure from Veltyco. However, Bakker contends that he had no role in the company’s operational management. This situation presents a classic case of conflicting testimonies.

Lenhoff was already a convicted fraudster who had served time in prison. After his death, Veltyco was rebranded as B90 Holdings PLC. Lenhoff, who passed away in prison in 2020 (with the cause of death remaining unknown), operated infamous schemes such as the online trading platform Option888, utilizing Veltyco as a cover. These fraudulent activities left tens of thousands of victims in their wake. Booker was implicated in facilitating the laundering of millions of euros obtained through Lenhoff’s scams via Payvision. Following a complaint from the Dutch Financial Markets Authority DNB, Booker faced prosecution and penalties for his involvement in systematic money laundering. Both Booker and Bakker had close personal and professional connections with Lenhoff. According to testimonies from Lenhoff and Booker to law enforcement, Bakker was the one who introduced Lenhoff to Booker and Payvision. Additionally, Bakker provided significant personal assistance to Lenhoff, which included a €1 million loan for a real estate venture in Istanbul, along with access to his yacht and private jet.

 Payvision-ING Link

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n a decision that puzzled many, Payvision was acquired in 2018 for a valuation of €360 million, despite its questionable dealings. This purchase, conducted under the leadership of the then-CEO, later became a critical topic of debate. Following Hamers’ transition to UBS in 2020, ING acquired Payvision in 2021 at a significant cost that ultimately amounted to hundreds of millions, resulting in substantial profits for Booker. The reasoning behind ING‘s choice not to pursue legal action against Booker remains unclear.

 

Victims of the fraud related to Veltyco, Lenhoff, and Barak have initiated lawsuits against both Payvision and ING, leading to claims that run into the multimillions. This acquisition has become one of ING‘s most contentious decisions, with the implications continuing to evolve.

 

 

 

Legal Strategies and Misleading Allegations Against FinTelegram

Both Booker and Bakker, linked to Veltyco, have sought the assistance of Christiaan A. Alberdingk Thijm to rehabilitate their reputations. This essentially involves taking legal action against FinTelegram, the sole investigative outlet to cover Veltyco’s ongoing issues for years. FinTelegram is also aware of the victims’ attempts to hold accountable those responsible in the Veltyco sphere, including the company itself.

 

Booker’s statement regarding Lenhoff and Bakker

Booker has chosen Thijm as his lawyer to file a lawsuit against Het Financieele Dagblad in Amsterdam. The newspaper had claimed that Booker had defrauded ING in the sale of Payvision and that the authorities were investigating this. The fact was, however, that ING did not feel defrauded, and the authorities did not investigate this. Evidently, ING was too stupid to understand the money laundering system of the high-risk payment processor.

For Bakker, Thijm is leading a SLAPP action against FinTelegram to silence the platform’s reporting on Veltyco and its cybercrime network. Bakker, in particular, disputes FinTelegram’s claims that he was a partner of Lenhoff and denies introducing Booker and Lenhoff, contrary to documented statements in the criminal file.

False abuse claim brought by Bakker’s Austrian lawyer

Booker has enlisted Thijm to pursue a lawsuit against Het Financieele Dagblad in Amsterdam. The publication suggested that Booker had defrauded ING during the sale of Payvision, asserting that an investigation by authorities was underway. In reality, ING did not perceive itself as defrauded, and no such investigation occurred. It appears that ING failed to grasp the money laundering mechanisms employed by the high-risk payment processor adequately.

For Bakker, Thijm is spearheading a SLAPP lawsuit against FinTelegram, aimed at stifling the platform’s reporting on Veltyco and its cybercrime connections. Bakker, in particular, denies FinTelegram’s assertions that he was associated with Lenhoff and contends that he did not facilitate an introduction between Booker and Lenhoff, despite evidence in the criminal files to the contrary.

Bakker’s Austrian attorney has made baseless abuse claims. Thijm has also attempted to imply that FinTelegram is engaged in illegal activities in communications with their legal representative. Furthermore, Bakker has retained another lawyer in Austria who falsely asserted to several organizations that court documents would exist to substantiate that the claims made by FinTelegram were incorrect. However, no such rulings have surfaced. With these untrue and slanderous claims, Voelk has sought to silence FinTelegram’s coverage of Veltyco and Bakker. In contrast, FinTelegram’s reports are corroborated by criminal documents and thorough investigations about Veltyco and Bakker’s involvement, validating the outlet’s claims.

As far as FinTelegram is informed, public prosecutors in Germany are still pursuing active investigations regarding charges related to the Veltyco situation.

Wider Consequences

Bakker’s SLAPP lawsuit serves as an effort to suppress investigative journalism and shun accountability. This legal maneuver illustrates the ongoing challenges faced by journalists and entities like FinTelegram in their mission to expose financial misdeeds and cybercrime.

The intricate links between Payvision, Veltyco, and their central figures, such as Booker and Bakker, continue to reveal the persistent obstacles in the battle against financial fraud and money laundering. Despite the mounting legal pressure, FinTelegram is resolute in its commitment to uncovering and reporting on the truth, ensuring that those implicated in these enterprises are held responsible.

As the legal proceedings progress, the role of Christiaan A. Alberdingk Thijm in this consequential SLAPP case is drawing increasing scrutiny, prompting inquiries into the extent individuals will go to silence opposing viewpoints and safeguard their reputations amidst the murky landscape of financial crime.