In a highly anticipated ruling, the Utrecht court is set to deliver its verdict on Thursday in the shocking case involving a man and woman accused of kidnapping and assaulting Dutch actor Bas Muijs. Known for his role on Goede Tijden, Slechte Tijden, Muijs was allegedly lured to Arnhem in March 2023 under false pretenses. What awaited him was far from what he expected—a brutal ordeal.
The prosecution contends that the main suspect, 41-year-old Harry W. from Arnhem, not only intended to extort Muijs but even had designs to kill him. They argue that he took extreme and violent actions that turned the actor’s life into a nightmare. In early October, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) called for a severe penalty: a four-year prison sentence for Harry W., with one year suspended.
For the second suspect, 33-year-old Madelon L., the OM requested a community service sentence of 200 hours. She is accused of complicity in the kidnapping plot. Both suspects are believed to have personal ties to Muijs: reportedly, Madelon L. is his ex-girlfriend, and Harry W. her current partner. In a startling courtroom revelation, Harry W. explained that he was “triggered” by a story Madelon told him, claiming Muijs had sexually assaulted her years ago in Salou, Spain. Fueled by this tale, Harry W. stated that he wanted “justice” for his girlfriend and demanded a significant payment from the actor as retribution.
The court has mandated that Harry W. be present for the verdict, while Madelon L. has the option to attend or not. Muijs, 47, himself opted to skip the earlier proceedings, a decision his lawyer, Petra Breukink, defended as necessary to protect his mental well-being. “It was a terrifying, intense ordeal for him,” she told Story magazine, adding that Muijs did not want to relive the trauma in court.
The drama doesn’t stop with the accusation. During the ordeal, Harry W. and Madelon L. allegedly demanded a jaw-dropping sum—€35,000. They reportedly coerced Muijs into a confession on camera, demanding he admit to the supposed assault. With threats to release the video on social media if he didn’t pay up, they held him in a psychological vice grip. The stakes couldn’t have been higher for Muijs.
Muijs, who suffered a heart attack in 2021, found himself cornered in a desperate situation. In a quick-thinking move, he pretended to experience another heart episode. His ruse worked: Harry W., believing Muijs was in real medical distress, agreed to take him to the hospital, ending the tense encounter.
This case has gripped the public, not only due to the celebrity involved but because of the unsettling motives and methods at play. Many will be watching the courtroom closely on Thursday to see if justice will be served, and whether Harry W. and Madelon L. will face the full consequences of their actions.
