Thomas Rorive Acquitted of Rape, Convicted of Sexual Integrity Violation
A Brussels court has acquitted former RTBF journalist Thomas Rorive of rape but found him guilty of sexual integrity violation and voyeurism, delivering a mixed verdict on June 24, 2026, in a case that has drawn widespread public attention across Belgium.
The Brussels Correctional Court sentenced Rorive to three years in prison, fully suspended for five years. The defense immediately announced it would appeal both convictions, according to RTBF.
The Verdict
The court acquitted Rorive of a single rape charge relating to events on January 13, 2021, at his home. However, it convicted him on two counts of sexual integrity violation—one for the January 2021 incident and another for an incident at an RTBF staff party on October 22, 2021—as well as voyeurism by recording, for filming a sexual partner without her knowledge during the January 2021 encounter.
The prosecution had requested six years and six months of detention, with an additional six months for the voyeurism charge added late in proceedings.
In delivering the verdict, the judge emphasized that the suspended sentence “is neither an absolution nor an acquittal,” as reported by RTBF.
Background and Allegations
Thomas Rorive, a former journalist for RTBF’s investigative program “Questions à la Une,” was fired for gross misconduct in late October 2021 following the staff party incident. An RTBF employee filed a complaint about the incident, which subsequently prompted a second complaint from a woman alleging rape at Rorive’s home earlier that year, as detailed in RTBF’s background reporting.
During the investigation, six women in total came forward with testimony against Rorive, though only two cases fell within the statute of limitations. The investigating judge described Rorive as a “sexual predator,” a characterization reported by Le Soir and cited by RTBF. Witnesses described a consistent pattern: alcohol was offered to victims, with some suggesting substances may have been added to their drinks. Police found sleeping pills at Rorive’s home, and one victim had traces of an antidepressant in her blood.
The Voyeurism Charge
A notable twist in the case came when Rorive’s defense submitted surveillance footage from his home cameras to argue that the January 2021 encounter was consensual. However, the prosecution noted that the victim had been filmed without her knowledge, leading to an additional charge of voyeurism by recording. The court found this charge established.
The court requalified the facts of the January 2021 incident, downgrading what was initially charged as rape to sexual integrity violation. The judge noted that the complainant’s own statements varied between describing a “non-consensual” and “consensual” relationship at different times.
Defense Response and Appeal
Rorive’s lawyer, Me Thomas Metzger, announced an appeal immediately after the verdict, contesting both convictions. “He remains on the same line of defense. He has contested the facts from the start and his position remains unchanged,” Metzger stated, according to RTBF.
Rorive has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that all relations were consensual.
Implications and What’s Next
The case has resonated widely in Belgium, partly because Rorive was a recognizable face from the country’s French-language public broadcaster and because the allegations involved conduct at a workplace event. The case touches on broader societal issues around sexual consent, workplace safety, and the #MeToo movement.
The appeal will be heard by a higher court, a process that could take months. It remains to be seen whether the prosecution will also cross-appeal the rape acquittal. The suspended sentence means Rorive will not serve prison time unless he reoffends within five years.
As the legal process continues, the case raises ongoing questions about workplace sexual misconduct policies at Belgian media organizations and the challenges courts face in adjudicating cases where consent is disputed.