Charges dropped against Hasselt mayor and police chief

A court in Hasselt has dropped charges against the city’s mayor, former police chief and municipal secretary in a case brought against them on the evidence of a whistle-blower. The three were accused of falsifying documents. The court found that mayor Hilde Claes, police chief Michel Beckers and secretary Liesbeth Klaykens had not acted with criminal intent.

The complaint arose from a meeting to form the new municipal council in 2013. Municipal secretary Vera Vrancken left the meeting in protest, and a new secretary was appointed. Vrancken complained that her departure was not included in the minutes of the session. The defence claimed it was a mere procedural error and not falsification of documents.

Vrancken, together with other council employees, had previously been sacked for their part in alleging serious claims of corruption within the police zone Hasselt-Zonhoven-Diepenbeek, known as Hazodi. The claims, made in 2011, have so far never led to formal charges, and the employees were reinstated.

Beckers was replaced as police chief and appointed as co-ordinator of operational policy last October – an appointment that led to protests from activists in Hazodi and from unions. Claes (pictured) remains in office. Last week she said she was relieved at the court’s decision.

“I hope the whistle-blowers can now accept the democratic decision of the rule of law, and that the police corps can focus 100% on its daily responsibilities,” she said.

“The crime is proven, and the evidence is all on the table,” Vrancken said after the verdict. “Yet the suspects are not being prosecuted. This is pure class justice. If the roles had been reversed, I would have been sentenced to 10 years.”

Photo courtesy VRT