A woman from the Limburg town of Bilzen who falsely accused her neighbour of grievous bodily harm has now been given a 6-month jail term. Her accusations put her neighbour Jan Peeters in jail for 21 days. He was also banned from the town for 3 months, lost his job and had to give his pets up for adoption.
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Woman jailed after her false accusations landed her neighbour in prison
Colin Clapson
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The incredible chapter started in June 2020 when the woman went to the police station with a black eye and filed a complaint against her neighbour. Police immediately sprang into action and arrested her 47-year-old neighbour Jan Peeters. Mr Peeters insisted he had nothing to do with the injuries. CCTV footage from the neighbourhood also revealed no wrongdoing.
But during the investigation, the woman insisted that Mr Peeters was the culprit. The investigating judge took a decision that led to Mr Peeters spending 21 days in Hasselt prison.
Conditions were set on his release. For example, he was not allowed in Bilzen for 3 months. Mr Peeters's life imploded. He lost his job and had to give his pets up for adoption. His false accuser also demanded compensation.
True story comes to light at the newsagent’s
For more than a year, the woman stuck to her story. However, one day, at the newsagent’s, she let slip that her brother had slapped her and not her neighbour. When confronted with her statements, the woman admitted she had lied.
During her trial last December, the woman’s lawyer sought her acquittal, to the disbelief of the neighbour, the prosecutor and the judge. In addition to a six-month jail sentence, the woman was also fined 1,600 euros. She must also pay Mr Peeters damages of 11,850 euros as well as court costs.