A subpoena brought against the former Flemish socialist party leader Conner Rousseau by a non-profit group that represents the interests of members of the Roma community has been declared inadmissible by the Dendermonde Criminal Court. Two weeks ago, the public prosecutor’s office asked the court to declare the subpoena inadmissible.
The summons came from non-profit organisation Kham, a Brussels-based organisation concerned with the integration of the Roma community. The organisation claimed that Mr Rousseau had not fulfilled the obligations imposed on him by the public prosecutor after the politician’s racist and xenophobic outburst during a drunken night out last summer.
Mr Rousseau was ordered to hold talks with representatives of the Roma Community. However, Khan withdrew from the talks as it was not given access to Mr Rousseau’s case file. The organisation then took fresh legal action against the politician.
"Not a victim"
The court has ruled that neither Kham nor the organisation’s chairperson is a victim and as such the subpoena is inadmissible. The non-profit organisation did not suffer any firm damage as a result of Mr Rousseau's comments and is therefore not a victim, the judge ruled. Khan can still appeal the ruling if it so wishes.