adoption scandalThe TV program without a trace launches an externalinvestigation into a discredited Colombian intermediary and a Dutchcorrespondent who linked adoptees to the wrong biological parents. The editor-in-chief announced this this afternoon in a conversation with whistleblowerBarbara Quee. The Colombian victim confirms this against this site.
Last week crime journalist Kees van der Spek revealed that _without a trace_in the past matched Colombian adoptees with the wrong biological parents. Theprogram itself confirmed that there have been at least two mismatches and isstill investigating twelve other cases.
In the search of the adoptees for their biological family, the program used aColombian fixer and a Dutch correspondent to act as an intermediary. TheColombian, Edwin Vela, has now disappeared without a trace since the scandalcame to light. The website of the organization Colombian Roots is down.
In the past, the Dutch correspondent worked for the organizationWereldkinderen. She had to leave because of allegations of inappropriatepractices. Nevertheless, remained without a trace use its services. Theprogram hired Vela to search for biological parents of adoptees. Together theyselected sixteen cases for the program. The Dutch has so far not responded torequests from this site.
Quote >>> It was a positive and constructive conversation. I was able to put> everything on the table>> Barbara Quee, victim
Positive and constructive
Barbara Quee, the Colombian adoptee who revealed the mismatches together withVan der Spek, spoke this afternoon with the editor-in-chief of without atrace. She was ‘stunned’ about the reaction of presenter Derk Bolt, who inthe program Khalid & Sophie said he believes in Vela’s good intentions.
Quee joined the program in 2005. It stated that her biological mother had beenfound. The woman said she had gotten into trouble and asked not to contact heragain. In the end it turned out not to be her mother.
Quee has a good feeling about the conversation with without a trace. She ispleased that the program is launching an external investigation into the twointermediaries. “I’m happy,” said Quee. “It was a positive and constructiveconversation. I was able to put everything on the table. This is a first steptowards finding a solution for the victims. The ball is now in the court_without a trace_.”
A spokesperson for KRO-NCRV only wants to say that it was a pleasant andconstructive conversation. At the beginning of the broadcast of without atrace tonight Derk Bolt returned to last week’s news. He indicated that themakers are disappointed that mistakes were made in the past. He added that DNAtesting is now being used, which means that there is one hundred percentcertainty. Bolt called on former participants who have doubts to sign up forthe program.
Presenter Derk Bolt in a broadcast of Spoorloos © kro-ncrv
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