Bangladesh, Aug. 22 -- The Netherlands has long prided itself on a reputation for transparency, accountability, and strong institutions that limit corruption within both government and business. That reputation, however, has been tested in recent years by a handful of high-profile cases involving major Dutch corporations. The conviction of Frits van Eerd, the former CEO of Jumbo supermarkets, stands out as one of the most consequential among them. His decision to file an appeal against a two-year prison sentence for bribery and money laundering marks a new chapter in a case that continues to reverberate across the Dutch corporate and legal landscape.

On August 7, the Northern Netherlands District Court in Groningen found van Eerd guilty ...