A criminal from the Brussels municipality of Anderlecht that was sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment in November last year has been released after just 2 months. The man's lawyer confirmed the news that his client has been released after the Supreme Court ruled that a judicial error had been made in the case that led to his conviction.
The 52-year-old man comes from an area of Anderlecht close to the Clemenceau metro station. On 27 November last year he was convicted of several series offences, including a home invasion, several car thefts and using the vehicles that he had taken to commit other crimes.
The man was sentenced to 7 years in prison and his immediate detention was ordered. According to the judge, the man is a danger to society and contributes “to the widespread feeling of insecurity among the public”.
The judge went on to say that the man was a central pawn in a criminal organisation and stiff sentence was appropriate. “Any measure other than a prison sentence to serve as a deterent would have the disastrous effect of downplaying the seriousness of these acts”.
Refusal to consider bail was “insufficiently motivated”
The man was taken to Haren Prison in Brussels after his conviction. Early this year his lawyer asked the Indictment Chamber to grant him bail pending an appeal trial. The request was refused, but lawyer Olivier Martins went to the Supreme Court and obtained the judgment quashed.
The man has reportedly been at large again since the end of January. Mr Olivier Martins confirms that this is the case. “I can confirm that my client was released. Justice has finally been done.”