Ex-coach on The Voice of Holland sentenced to two years in prison for rape

A Dutch court has sentenced a former coach on talent show The Voice of Holland to two years in prison for rape, in a high-profile case that gripped the country.

Ali B, 42, was found guilty of raping a woman known as “Naomi” during a writer’s room in 2018 – allegations he has denied.

The rapper, one of several Dutch The Voice stars accused of sexual misconduct, will appeal against the conviction, his lawyer told public media outlet NOS.

The 2022 scandal was the first #MeToo wave to rock the progressive Netherlands, which has since been shaken by several other incidents of sexual abuse.

Ali B was also accused by a contestant on The Voice of forcibly fondling her, touching her genitals and performing sexual acts on her.

While prosecutors considered the woman’s allegations reliable, the Dutch court dropped the charges over a lack of evidence.

The Dutch celebrity was also convicted for the attempted rape in 2014 of Dutch artist Ellen ten Damme during a stay in Morocco where they were recording a song for a TV programme.

“Ali B’s actions have seriously harmed the physical integrity of the victims,” the verdict read.

“He was guided by his own sexual needs without taking into account the will of the victims or how his behaviour would affect them.”

The tribunal highlighted the victims’ “courage” given the performer’s public profile.

A string of sexual abuse allegations has cast a pall over the founding version of a show whose premise – coaches in swivelling chairs picking contestants after listening to them sing “blind” – has been sold to 150 countries.

The allegations raised questions about how programme creator and reality TV king John de Mol dealt with the scandal.

De Mol, who also created the reality show Big Brother, admitted knowing about one allegation of inappropriate messages by The Voice of Holland’s bandleader as far back as 2019 but taking no action. A case against the musician was dropped.

The show was suspended in 2022 by broadcaster RTL.

• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html