The trial of the man accused of circulating explicit photos and videos of Flemish celebrities will not be held behind closed doors, the Criminal Court of Ghent decided on Wednesday.
The defendants and victims cannot prove that their interests "could be seriously or unduly harmed" by a public trial, according to the judge.
Defence lawyers for the accused G.R. wanted a private trial due to the involvement of minors in some charges. "This is a highly publicised case and we have no intention of taking part in a public spectacle," lawyer Wahib El Hayouni argued.
The plaintiffs did not object to a private hearing, but the prosecutor’s office called for a public trial due to the "huge societal importance" of the case. The court dismissed the request for closed-door proceedings.
In early October 2020, pictures and videos of Belgian celebrities including radio personality Peter Van de Veire, actor and singer Stan Van Samang, and musician Sean Dhondt, were shared on social media.
The victims were tricked by a fake profile of a woman calling herself Eveline, who convinced them to send her explicit photos and videos.
G.R., a 27-year-old student at the time, was apprehended following an investigation by the Federal Computer Crime Unit (FCCU) of the federal police. He confessed and was released under stringent conditions.
The suspect was re-arrested in late November 2022 for similar offences in the Netherlands, where he operated under the name Ariana, even while the investigation into the initial incidents were ongoing. He was sent to court with an accomplice from Antwerp.
