Ex-RTBF Journalist Rorive Faces New Charges Day After Conviction
Former RTBF journalist Thomas Rorive, convicted just one day ago by the Brussels Criminal Court for sexual integrity violations and voyeurism, is facing a fresh legal investigation. The Mons-Tournai public prosecutor’s office confirmed on Thursday that a new case has been opened against him at the Mons prosecutor’s office, according to La Libre Belgique.
The New Allegations
The new complaint, reported by RTBF, relates to alleged assault and battery (coups et blessures) against Rorive’s ex-partner, with the alleged facts dating back to May 2026. The prosecutor’s office has stated that the new case “is not about sexual offenses” and declined to provide further details “so that the investigation proceeds as well as possible.”
Importantly, the new complaint does not affect the suspended sentence handed down in the June 24 conviction. However, a future conviction in this new case could carry significant consequences.
The June 24 Verdict
On Wednesday, the Brussels Criminal Court (54th chamber) sentenced Rorive to three years imprisonment, fully suspended for five years, for violating the sexual integrity of two women and for voyeurism by recording. As RTBF reported, the court acquitted Rorive of the rape charge, finding insufficient evidence and requalifying the facts partly due to the victim’s inconsistent accounts.
Specifically, regarding the January 13, 2021 incident at Rorive’s home, the court found that he had taken the complainant’s hand and placed it on his genitals, provoking surprise and constituting a sexual integrity violation. However, the rape charge was not sustained, as the complainant had given varying accounts — speaking at times of a non-consensual encounter and at others of a consensual one. The court also ruled that the voyeurism charge was established, as Rorive had filmed the complainant without her consent during a sexual encounter and retained the footage.
Regarding the October 22, 2021 incident at an RTBF staff party at Tour & Taxis, the court found Rorive guilty of inappropriate behavior toward a female colleague. He was fired by RTBF for gross misconduct on October 29, 2021, and subsequently contested his dismissal before the Labor Court of Hainaut.
“A suspended sentence is neither an absolution nor an acquittal,” the presiding judge emphasized during the reading of the verdict.
Background and Investigation
The case has drawn significant media attention in Belgium, in part because of Rorive’s prominent role as a journalist at the French-language public broadcaster. During the investigation, six women in total testified against Rorive, with the investigating judge describing him as a “sexual predator.” According to reporting by Le Soir, the allegations followed a similar pattern: Rorive allegedly offered alcohol to victims, with some suggesting that something was added to their drinks. Investigators found sleeping pills at Rorive’s home, and one victim had traces of an antidepressant in her blood. Some allegations dated back more than ten years and were therefore time-barred.
The prosecution had requested six years and six months of imprisonment — six years for the original charges plus an additional six months after Rorive produced CCTV footage from his home as evidence of consent, which instead led to the voyeurism charge. Rorive’s defense pleaded for acquittal throughout the proceedings, with his lawyer stating in February 2026: “The facts are firmly contested and we will demonstrate this at the hearing with supporting evidence.” After the verdict, his lawyer indicated that an appeal was being considered.
Broader Implications
The new complaint for assault and battery represents a significant broadening of Rorive’s legal troubles beyond sexual offenses into allegations of physical violence. The timing is notable — the alleged facts date to May 2026, just weeks before the June 24 verdict, suggesting alleged behavior continuing even while under active judicial scrutiny.
The case continues to resonate within Belgium’s media landscape, involving a former journalist from the country’s public broadcaster. It reflects broader societal discussions about workplace misconduct and the #MeToo movement in Belgium, as well as the legal system’s handling of sexual offense cases, where convictions on lesser charges alongside acquittals on more serious ones often draw public scrutiny. RTBF’s swift decision to fire Rorive for gross misconduct in 2021 demonstrated institutional responsiveness to the allegations.
What’s Next
Several questions remain unanswered. Will Rorive appeal the June 24 conviction as his lawyer has indicated? What specific evidence supports the new assault and battery complaint, and will the case proceed to trial? If convicted in the new case, what consequences might arise for the suspended sentence? The investigation at the Mons prosecutor’s office is ongoing, with authorities declining further comment to preserve its integrity. The case is likely to remain in the Belgian public eye as both legal tracks — the potential appeal and the new investigation — unfold in the coming months.