JusticeEurope
Brussels Officer Killed in Jette Drug Probe
A Brussels police inspector was shot dead during a carjacking probe in Jette. Forensic work continues as investigators explore a drug link.
—7 min read
Tag
#Justice
80 articles
JusticeEurope
Where Belgium's Illegal Weapons Come From
A VRT investigation traces Belgium's illegal firearms to Turkey and the Balkans as experts warn of a data gap and escalating gun violence.
—6 min read
PoliticsEurope
Belgium's Justice Minister Admits 'Abominable' Prison State
Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden admits Belgium's prisons are in a dramatic state after a Pano investigation exposed severe overcrowding and drugs.
—7 min read
JusticeEurope
Dean Trial: Mother Testifies of Pain and Guilt
The mother of toddler Dean Verberckmoes testified at the Ghent assizes trial, describing daily pain and guilt as the fourth day of proceedings continued.
—5 min read
NationalSociety
Antwerp Prison Tested in Trial Weekend Lock-In
Volunteers were locked in at Antwerp's new 'de Kade' prison to test its systems before the first 86 detainees arrive on 9 November.
—5 min read
JusticeEurope
Assize Trial Opens in Ghent Over Toddler Dean's Death
The assize trial into the 2022 death of four-year-old Dean Verberckmoes opened in Ghent, with Dave De Kock and Romy W. facing charges.
—5 min read
CrimeBelgium
Belgian Doctor van Berlaer Arrested on Voyeurism Charge
Prominent Belgian pediatrician and emergency doctor Gerlant van Berlaer has been detained on suspicion of voyeurism after a workplace house search.
—4 min read
CrimeEurope
Dance Teacher Convicted of Abusing Two Students
A dance teacher known from So You Think You Can Dance has been convicted of cyber-grooming two minor students in Izegem, Belgium.
—5 min read
SocietyJustice
Belgian Prisons Buckle: Three in a Nine-Square-Metre Cell
Belgian prisons hold 13,434 detainees for 10,795 places, with hundreds sleeping on the floor. Experts ask whether so many people belong behind bars.
—6 min read
JusticeBelgium
Belgian Prisons Crack Under Overcrowding Crisis
Belgian prisons hold 13,434 detainees for 10,795 places, with nearly 600 sleeping on floors. Emergency measures took effect October 1.
—5 min read
CrimeBelgium
Three Arrested in Antwerp Over Drugging, Rape of Women
Three men have been arrested in Antwerp on suspicion of drugging and raping at least three women, with thousands of images found on computers.
—4 min read
JusticePolitics
Belgian Prosecutors Seek Suspended Sentence for El Kaouakibi
Antwerp prosecutors seek a 30-month suspended sentence and fine for ex-Flemish MP Sihame El Kaouakibi over subsidy fraud and forgery at Let's Go Urban.
—5 min read
JusticeEurope
Brussels Court of Appeal Warns of Backlog Into 2028
The Brussels Court of Appeal is demanding urgent reinforcements as a backlog pushes some case hearings to September 2028.
—5 min read
CrimeEurope
Vanhaverbeke Family Declines to Testify at Brugge Trial
Parents and sister of Chris Vanhaverbeke declined to testify at his Brugge assize trial over the 2022 murder of his daughters, Maud (8) and Ona (5).
—6 min read
Justice/CrimeEurope
Belgium: 17-Year-Old Held Over Mother and Sister's Deaths
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested after his mother (51) and sister (20) were found dead in Denderleeuw, Belgium. Prosecutors opened a murder inquiry.
—4 min read
JusticePolitics
Brussels Prosecutor Alleges MP Sought Detainee Release
Brussels King's Prosecutor Julien Moinil says an MP asked him to free a detainee, prompting Ecolo's Zakia Khattabi to demand clarification.
—4 min read
JusticeEurope
Belgian Farmer's Assize Trial Opens in Daughters' Killing
The assize trial of Chris Vanhaverbeke, a Belgian farmer accused of killing his two daughters, has opened in Bruges with the indictment read.
—5 min read
JusticeBelgium
Belgium's Prisons Face a Growing Elderly Inmate Crisis
Belgium's prison oversight body calls for individual cells, geriatric care and a palliative framework as the inmate population ages sharply.
—7 min read
NationalJustice
Xavier Magnée, Dutroux Attorney, Dies at 91
Xavier Magnée, the Belgian defence lawyer who represented Marc Dutroux and personified the old-school courtroom 'ténor du barreau', has died aged 91.
—4 min read
JusticeHealth
Limburg Dentist Suspected of Fraud and Illegal Care
A Limburg dentist is under investigation for letting unqualified staff sedate patients and perform root canals, and for over EUR 188,000 in RIZIV fraud.
—4 min read
JusticeEurope
Prosecutor Seeks 20 Years for Father in Jairon Trial
Belgian prosecutors demand 20 years for the father convicted of murdering 14-year-old Jairon, and three years for four others who withheld care.
—7 min read
EntertainmentJustice
Schoenaerts Faces 12-Month Prison Demand in Belgium
Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts faces a prosecutor's demand of 12 months in prison for repeatedly driving without a license.
—5 min read
JusticeUnited States
FBI Interviews Key Witness in Alex Pretti Shooting
Federal investigators interviewed eyewitness Wynnie Savageford in the Alex Pretti shooting, the strongest sign yet that a federal probe remains active.
—4 min read
LaborJustice
Belgian Prison Guards Begin 5-Day Strike Over Crisis
Belgian prison guards launch five-day strike over overcrowding, staff shortages and unsafe conditions across all correctional facilities.
—4 min read
Religion & Society
Belgian Buddhists Put Government on Notice Over Recognition
Belgian Buddhists formally put the government on notice, demanding official recognition after a 20-year wait, with legal action threatened.
—5 min read
Justice & Crime
Woman Killed by Violence in Anderlecht; Investigation Opened
A 28-year-old woman was violently killed in Anderlecht, Brussels. The prosecutor's office has opened a judicial investigation into her death.
—4 min read
History
70 Years On: China's Just Trials of Japanese War Criminals
China marks 70 years since its landmark 1956 trials of Japanese war criminals in Shenyang and Taiyuan, a defining moment in post-WWII justice.
—7 min read
LaborPolitics
Belgian Prison Unions Announce Five-Day Strike
Belgian prison unions announce five-day strike from Sept 6-11 after failed talks with Justice Minister Verlinden over overcrowding and safety.
—5 min read
Justice/Legal
Belgium's Historic New Criminal Code Takes Effect
Belgium's new criminal code takes effect September 1, replacing the 1867 code. Major reforms include 8 punishment levels and prison as last resort.
—5 min read
Justice/Legal
Belgian Lawyer Faces Trial for Defrauding 80+ Clients
Former Merksem lawyer Marc Gadisseur faces trial in Antwerp for allegedly defrauding up to 94 clients of €12 million, funding a luxury lifestyle.
—6 min read
JusticePolitics
Belgium's New Penal Code Takes Effect September 1
Belgium's first major penal code reform since 1867 takes effect September 1, introducing new offenses and an eight-level penalty system.
—6 min read
Crime & Justice
Zeebrugge Remembers Herwin (56) Killed by Russian Truckers
Zeebrugge community commemorates Herwin Alleman one year after he was beaten to death by two Russian truck drivers.
—4 min read
Crime & Justice
Belgian Secretary Denies Premeditation in Murder Case
Greet V. denies planning the murder of her boss's wife, but Brussels prosecutors seek an assize court trial in the 'millionaire murder' case.
—4 min read
JusticeSociety
Belgium Probes Miss Model Pageant Over Indecent Acts
Limburg prosecutors launch criminal investigation into Miss Model pageant after winner files complaint alleging sexual assault by organizers.
—5 min read
Justice & Society
Dutroux 30 Years On: Father's Plea for Child Protection
Thirty years after Dutroux, Julie Lejeune's father pleads for stronger child protection as Belgium reflects on the tragedy's legacy.
—6 min read
EntertainmentJustice
Bruel's Judicial Control Relaxed in Sexual Violence Case
French singer Patrick Bruel, under investigation for sexual violence, can now leave France after judicial control was relaxed. The prosecutor has appealed.
—4 min read
SocietyJustice
Memorial for Dutroux Victims Julie and Mélissa in Hainaut
A memorial for Julie Lejeune and Mélissa Russo, victims of Marc Dutroux, will be built at the site where their bodies were found in 1996.
—5 min read
Society
Dutroux Case 30 Years On: Belgium's Darkest Chapter
Thirty years after Marc Dutroux's arrest, Belgium reflects on the horror summer of 1996, its lasting societal impact, and the ongoing legal saga.
—6 min read
Justice
Belgian Nurse Sentenced for Humiliating Patient Photos
A Belgian home nurse received 36 months for sharing humiliating photos of vulnerable patients, exposing privacy failures in home care.
—5 min read
Justice
Antwerp Court Reverts to Paper Submissions, Lawyers Object
Antwerp Court of First Instance will require lawyers to submit criminal case documents on paper from September, citing budget constraints.
—5 min read
Justice & Security
Escaped Detainee Exposes Belgian Prison Security Gaps
A detainee's escape from a Brussels hospital reveals prison guards armed only with BIC pens, as unions demand the DAB resume its security mission.
—4 min read
CrimeBelgium
Yaro (19) Dies After Months in Coma Following Ghent Brawl
Yaro D'Hoore (19) from Oudenburg has died after four months in a coma following a Ghent brawl, his grandmother confirmed.
—5 min read
Crime
More Than Half of Stalking Cases Dismissed in Belgium
More than half of stalking cases in Belgium were dismissed between 2021-2025, prompting calls for better handling of complaints and victim protection.
—5 min read
JusticeCrime
FBI Agent Charged With Stealing $1M in Crypto From Russia
A former FBI agent faces charges for allegedly stealing nearly $1M in crypto from Russia-linked accounts, confessing before investigators identified him.
—6 min read
JusticePolitics
Belgium Rolls Out Modular Prison Cells to Ease Overcrowding
Belgium deploys modular prison cells at Bruges, Hasselt, Leuven and Wallonia to tackle record overcrowding, with Bruges first and Leuven by 2027.
—4 min read
PoliticsGeneral News
Belgium Daily: Economy Stalls, NATO Spy Case, Justice Reform
Zero Q2 growth, NATO espionage charges, an NMBS WWII lawsuit, and energy excise reform highlight Belgium's news on July 29.
—6 min read
JusticeLabor
Belgium Mandates Minimum Prison Service in 24-Hour Strikes
Belgium's new Royal Decree mandates minimum service in prisons within 24 hours of any strike, sparking union backlash amid chronic overcrowding.
—5 min read
Crime & Justice
Crime in Belgium: Manhunt, Wildfires, Hate Attack, Oversight
Belgium faces a wave of crime: wanted arson suspect, deliberate wildfires, transphobic assault, housing fraud, and police oversight concerns.
—5 min read
Crime & JusticeBelgium
Brussels Shooting Suspect Freed Over Prison Admin Error
A man charged with assassination in a Brussels shooting was freed without conditions due to an administrative error at Haren prison.
—4 min read
PoliticsJustice
Belgian Judge Blocks Higher Pensions for 32 Former MPs
A Brussels court ruled against 32 former Belgian MPs seeking €9,563 pensions, reducing them to €8,291 in a landmark fiscal responsibility decision.
—4 min read
Justice
Belgian Court Acquits Four Officers in Wetteren Death
A Belgian court acquitted four police officers in the 2022 death of Dylan Den Haese, ruling the neck restraint was justified.
—4 min read
JusticeBelgium
Care Worker Sentenced to 40 Months for Nursing Home Abuse
A Belgian care worker has been sentenced to 40 months for physically and psychologically abusing three elderly nursing home residents.
—4 min read
JusticeCrime
Belgian Lawyer Gets Suspended Term for Money Laundering
Antwerp lawyer Jorgen Van Laer sentenced to 2 years suspended prison and €40,000 fine for attempted money laundering via encrypted Sky ECC messages.
—4 min read
CrimeJustice
Belgian Teen Who Raped Woman on Rollerblades Is Interned
A Belgian teenager who raped a woman rollerblading along a canal towpath and left her near death has been ordered interned rather than imprisoned.
—5 min read
JusticeImmigration
Brussels Removes 94 Illegal Offenders in Police Pact
A Brussels prosecutor-immigration office collaboration removed 94 illegal offenders in one year, targeting serious crime among irregular migrants.
—4 min read
JusticeMedia
Ex-RTBF Journalist Rorive Faces New Charges After Conviction
Former RTBF journalist Thomas Rorive, convicted for sexual offenses, now faces a new investigation for alleged assault against his ex-partner.
—4 min read
Justice
Thomas Rorive Acquitted of Rape, Guilty of Sexual Offenses
Former RTBF journalist Thomas Rorive acquitted of rape, convicted of sexual integrity violation and voyeurism. Defense appeals 3-year suspended sentence.
—4 min read
CrimeJustice
Nurse Sentenced to 30 Years for Martelange Murder
Belgian nurse Vinciane Welvaert receives maximum 30-year sentence for murdering 92-year-old patient Marie Reding in Martelange.
—4 min read
Justice
Belgian Teacher Convicted of Raping Minor Student on Trip
A 44-year-old teacher from Hotelschool Ter Duinen was convicted of raping a 17-year-old student on a school trip to Cologne, receiving 42 months in prison.
—4 min read
Justice
Ghent Court Orders Belgian State to Transfer Interned Person
A Ghent court orders Belgium to transfer an interned person to a care institution within 30 days, citing systemic human rights violations.
—5 min read
Justice
Belgian Driver Gets 27 Years for Strépy Carnival Tragedy
Paolo Falzone sentenced to 27 years for killing 7 in Strépy carnival tragedy. Court found him guilty of intentional homicide and 79 attempted homicides.
—5 min read
JusticeEurope
Strépy Carnival Trial: Prosecutor Seeks 27 Years for Driver
Belgian prosecutor demands 27-year sentence for Paolo Falzone, guilty of killing seven in the 2022 Strépy carnival tragedy. Sentencing June 17.
—4 min read
JusticePolitics
Van Quickenborne Kidnap Charges Dropped; Suspects Face Arms
Belgian court drops attempted kidnapping charges against six Dutch suspects in the Van Quickenborne plot, but refers them for weapons possession.
—4 min read
Justice & LawHealth
Belgium Lifts Asbestos Company Immunity in Landmark Victory
Belgium's government lifts legal immunity for asbestos companies, allowing victims to seek damages in court after a decade-long political struggle.
—4 min read
JusticeEurope
Belgian Driver Guilty of Manslaughter in Carnival Tragedy
Paolo Falzone convicted of seven counts of manslaughter for driving into carnival crowd in Strépy-Bracquegnies, killing seven and injuring dozens.
—4 min read
JusticeAviation
Belgian Man Sentenced for Groping Flight Attendant on Flight
A Belgian man received 10 months in prison and was ordered to pay over $73,000 for groping a flight attendant and attempting to breach the cockpit.
—4 min read
Justice & Human RightsPolitics
Flemish Bar Association Sues Belgium Over Prisons
The Flemish Bar Association takes Belgium to court over chronic prison overcrowding, citing human rights violations as 668 inmates sleep on floors.
—5 min read
Justice
Belgian Lawyer Funded Maserati with Client Money Faces Trial
Former lawyer Marc Gadisseur, accused of defrauding 84 clients of €12 million to fund a luxury lifestyle, faces trial on September 1, 2026.
—5 min read
JusticeCrime
Belgium to Prosecute 3 Dutch Nationals in 2022 Kidnap Plot
Belgian prosecutor reverses 2024 decision, seeks to try three Dutch nationals for attempted kidnapping of former minister Van Quickenborne.
—4 min read
JusticeCrime
Freddy Horion Released with Ankle Monitor After 46 Years
Freddy Horion, convicted of six murders in 1980, leaves prison after 46 years with an electronic ankle monitor and enters a forensic care center.
—4 min read
JusticeSociety
One Year On, Family Seeks Justice in Fabian Police Case
One year after 11-year-old Fabian was fatally struck by a police vehicle in Brussels, his family renews calls for justice as the investigation continues.
—4 min read
PoliticsJustice
Belgium Pays €2M Monthly for Empty Antwerp Prison
Belgium's new €195.5M Antwerp prison with 440 cells sits empty while the government pays €2M monthly rent. Staffing shortages and technical delays blamed.
—5 min read
JusticeSociety
Wheelchair-Bound Man, 70, Accused of Killing Fellow Resident
A wheelchair-bound man with one leg is accused of killing a 90-year-old fellow resident at a Belgian nursing home, raising complex questions.
—3 min read
JusticeSociety
One Year After Fabian's Death: Belgium Police Reform Review
One year after 11-year-old Fabian was killed by a police vehicle in a Brussels park, VRT NWS investigates what reforms have—and haven't—been implemented.
—4 min read
JusticeEconomy
New Antwerp Prison Empty as Government Pays €2M Monthly Rent
A new 440-cell prison in Antwerp stands empty due to technical issues and staffing shortages, while Belgium pays nearly €2 million monthly in rent.
—5 min read
Justice & CrimeEurope
Mother of Strépy Crash Driver Sparks Outrage in Court
The mother of Paolo Falzone, who killed seven carnival-goers, caused an uproar by saying 'One or two dead, what difference does it make?' in court.
—4 min read
JusticeLabor
BASF Supervisor Sentenced for Extreme Workplace Bullying
BASF Antwerp team leader sentenced to 160 hours community service for extreme bullying, including attempted strangulation of a young employee.
—4 min read
Justice & LegalBelgium
Falzone Trial Paused for Erotic Salon; Petition Hits 5,000
The Falzone trial in Belgium will pause from 4-8 June for a pre-booked erotic salon. A petition against the interruption has gathered 5,000 signatures.
—4 min read
Crime & Justice
Falzone Trial Twist and Aborted Bolle Jos Operation
Belgian justice: dramatic premeditation twist in the Paolo Falzone murder trial and aborted high-seas arrest of drug trafficker 'Bolle Jos'.
—6 min read
Justice & Society
Alleged Police Violence in Charleroi: Man Faces Eye Surgery
A man with an intellectual disability needs emergency eye surgery after an alleged police beating in Charleroi, sparking outrage and demands for reform.
—4 min read