Dutch cable operator Ziggo is seeking €755,000 in damages from a card-sharing pirate.
29-years old Jermain R. operated a card-sharing ring from his parents’ home in Oude Wetering from 2011 tot 2017, serving around 300 ‘customers’, who paid €75 a year rather than paying the cabler €75 a month.
The pirate advertised his services online. The man was caught when an employee of Ziggo tried to buy a subscription from him.
The public prosecutor is seeking six months conditional jail term with a probation period of three years, a €150,000 fine and in addition Ziggo is sueing for damages.
“Unfortunately, TV pirate is becoming more common. In this case we reported the loss of subscription fees and we are pleased that the police and the public prosecutor have taken up this case energetically,” commented Ziggo’s Hans den Heijer
“We miss out on subscription fees and otherwise this fraudster did not pay any fees to rights owners. Based on previous convictions in this type of fraud, we look forward to the verdict with confidence.”