Nine suspects will appear before the Criminal Court in Brussels after a drugs raid at the office of the Francophone Education Minister Caroline Désir (socialist). The news first appeared in the newspapers published by the Sudinfo Group and has since been confirmed by VRT News sources. The suspects are accused of selling and possessing drugs.
Nine suspects to appear in court after cocaine is found at the office of Francophone Education Minister
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On 15 December 2023, the office of the Francophone Education Minister Caroline Désir was informed that a person that was employed there had been arrested as part of an investigation into drug offences. According to VRT News sources this was the son of Fadila Laanan , a former Francophone socialist minister and currently a member of the Brussels regional parliament.
A day after having found out that her employee had been arrested, Ms Désir initiated proceedings for their dismissal. The same day the office of the person that had been arrested was searched by police. They found around 50 small bags containing cocaine. Ms Désir’s spokesperson says that she has given her full cooperation to the investigation and no other members of her staff have been questioned in relation to the case.
Now the suspects in the case are set to appear before the Brussels Criminal Court. The Brussels public prosecutor’s office says that a total of 9 suspects will appear in court. Two of the suspects will remain in custody on remand until the trial.