Former coffee shop owner Johan van Laarhoven was imprisoned in a Thai prison for years, partly due to the actions of the Dutch government. Now he is suing the Dutch state. Johan van Laarhoven, known for coffee shop The Grass Company, was imprisoned in Thailand for 103 years, of which he had to serve 20. Now he is speaking out about his experiences for the first time. Former coffee shop owner Johan van Laarhoven was imprisoned in a Thai prison for years, partly due to the actions of the Dutch government. Now he is suing the Dutch state. In 2014, the Netherlands asked the Thai authorities to cooperate in an investigation into Van Laarhoven. This led to his arrest and that of his wife. In Thailand, he was convicted of laundering money that he had allegedly earned with his coffee shop. Although his original sentence was 103 years, he 'only' had to serve six. His wife was also sentenced to prison. Van Laarhoven's case has attracted a lot of political attention. Members of the House of Representatives from various parties, such as D66, SP and GroenLinks, asked questions about the role of the Netherlands in his arrest. Lawyer Gerard Spong and presenter Filemon Wesselink campaigned for his release. Even the National Ombudsman published a critical report. In 2019, then-minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus promised to make an effort to bring Van Laarhoven to the Netherlands. After negotiations with the Thai authorities, he was transferred to the Netherlands in January 2020, where he was allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence. A request for clemency was also submitted. In 2023, it was announced that Van Laarhoven would no longer be prosecuted in the Netherlands. He is now suing the state for its role in the events that led to his years of imprisonment in Thailand. This is the beginning of a legal battle in which Van Laarhoven hopes to find justice and draw attention to the mistakes that were made. Johan van Laarhoven is a former owner of The Grass Company, one of the most famous *coffee shops* in the Netherlands. After emigrating to Thailand in 2008, he became embroiled in legal trouble, partly due to a request from the Dutch government. His case became an example of the complex relationship between national and international legislation surrounding drug policy. Gerard Spong is a renowned criminal lawyer known for his commitment to human rights. He played an important role in Van Laarhoven's defense. Ferdinand Grapperhaus, former Minister of Justice and Security, personally traveled to Thailand to negotiate Van Laarhoven's return to the Netherlands. Filemon Wesselink, presenter and program maker, used his platform to draw attention to Van Laarhoven's case. Bar Laat Viewers can end the day from Monday to Thursday evening with Bar Laat, a talk show broadcast on NPO 1. This BNNVARA program is presented by Sophie Hilbrand and Jeroen Pauw, with Tim de Wit as a regular substitute presenter. It offers a platform for current discussions on topics such as politics, art, culture and sports. The show will be recorded live in a Hilversum studio with an audience and will also have room for musical performances. Follow us on Instagram: / barlaat.bnnvara Follow us on Facebook: / barlaatbnnvara Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/barlaat #BarLaat