Koen Schuiling convicted of indecent exposure on appeal

The Zwolle Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction of former Groningen Mayor Koen Schuiling for indecent exposure. The court ordered Schuiling to pay a fine of 250 euros, maintaining the original sentence from a lower court.

The incident occurred in March 2024 while Schuiling was driving on the A7 motorway between Hoogezand and Groningen. A truck driver reported seeing Schuiling with his genitals exposed while the interior lights of the vehicle were on. The court identified the witness's consistent and concrete testimony as the core of the evidence.

Schuiling has consistently denied the charges, claiming he was rubbing his abdomen due to severe pain. His defense argued that medical issues following heart surgery made the act impossible, but the court rejected these claims, stating the behavior was offensive and could startle other road users. His legal team described the ruling as a 'sledgehammer blow' and are considering whether to appeal to the Supreme Court.