Trial starts for two ‘card sharing’ pirates in the Netherlands

[Len]

Two suspects aged 40 and 49 from Groningen are suspected of ‘card sharing’ and illegally selling access to the Ziggo cable network. On Monday, July 2, they have to answer to the district court in the Dutch city of Groningen.

Cardsharping is a form of ‘TV piracy’ in which the smart card, which is inserted into the digital receiver for the purpose of taking television from – in this case – Ziggo, is decoded by the 40-year-old prime suspect. This digital TV signal was shared by the main suspect against payment with approximately 150-200 other people. The main suspect also sold dream boxes via online market website Marktplaats for this purpose. The case was brought to light by an anonymous report to Ziggo that smartcard fraud had been committed. Following this report, the police started an investigation

Research has shown that the 49-year-old co-suspect has delivered many ‘customers’ to the main suspect. In addition, he has performed various services, for example by acting as a mechanic or repairer when people at home had problems with their television signal.

Both suspects will be prosecuted for their participation in Article 326c of the Penal Code, in which the 49-year-old suspect was charged, in the alternative, with complicity in Article 326c of the Penal Code. The offences were committed in the period from the end of 2013 to 21 March 2017. The hearing will be held on Monday, July 2 at the court in Groningen.