A 44-year-old man from Emmeloord was fined €800 after taking almost 300 litres of petrol without paying on four occasions at Total De Aalscholver along the A6 near Lelystad. The incidents took place between 10 August and 13 September of the previous year. Security footage showed a car with Ukrainian licence plates, and the man later admitted the offences after being apprehended by police.

His lawyer said he had been under strain because of the war in Ukraine and the deaths of relatives, and that he had recently lost his job. The man later acknowledged that the non-payment was not simply forgetfulness. He was absent from the hearing because, according to his lawyer, he had travelled urgently to Georgia because his mother was unwell. The prosecution sought a fine rather than community service so as not to jeopardize his new job, and the judge imposed the requested €800 fine.