Dutch watchdog: Tax office discriminated in fraud probes

  Dutch tax office unlawfully discriminated against citizens by targeting m for investigation based on fact that y held double nationality, an independent watchdog concluded Friday in latest sharp criticism of a system designed to track down child benefit fraud.

An investigation by Dutch Data Protection Authority showed that benefits department of Taxation Service “in different ways, on a large scale and for a long time saved and used data in a manner that is absolutely t tolerated,” authority's chairman, Aleid Wolfsen, said in a statement.

“ whole system was set up and used in a discriminatory manner,” he ded.

authority said tax inspectors used data about claimants' double nationality in assessing childcare benefit claims and tackling organized fraud.

“Double nationality plays role in assessment of a request for childcare benefit,” authority said.

In May, government asked public prosecutors to investigate possible discrimination between 2013 and 2017 in long-running scandal centered on civil servants trying to track down parents fraudulently claiming child care benefits. Prosecutors have t yet anunced outcome of ir probe.

Thousands of parents h ir child care benefit payments stopped or were ordered to repay money amid fraud investigations. In some cases, parents were plunged into financial problems after being wrongly accused of falsely claiming benefits.

government alrey has in past apologized for tax office's methods and in March earmarked 500 million euros to compensate more than 20,000 parents.

State Secretary for Finance Alexandra van Huffelen apologized again following Friday's damning report.

“ ban on discrimination must be strictly respected,” Van Huffelen said.