La Libre Belgique of 13 August 2009.

Belgian judiciary scandal 'hushed up'

Published on 14 August 2009 at 14:43
La Libre Belgique of 13 August 2009.

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In Brussels, the affair is considered to be such a serious threat to Belgium's justice system that it has already been compared with the case of the infamous murderer and pedophile. The capital's police have already informed the Minister of Justice of the existence of corruption charges against several high-level judges, including the presiding judge of the Bankruptcy Court, Francine de Tandt. The affair has been raised by several lawyers, who accuse De Tandt "of delivering verdicts on demand," explains De Morgen. The Brussels daily adds that the fact that police have directly written to the Minister for Justice "is absolutely unprecedented," but there was no alternative, because there is clear evidence that "highly placed judges have tried to hush up the case." The De Morgen report goes on to describe the affair as "a bomb under the Brussels Courthouse," which may have ramifications for the Belgian judiciary "that would make the spate of recent prison escapes look like a minor detail." If the accusations prove to be true, the daily foresees "enormous repercussions: all those who have been convicted by the judge concerned, could demand to have their cases re-opened, and the payment of compensation." But above all, it is "the credibility of the judiciary, which has already been shaken, that is now at stake," concludes La Libre Belgique.

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