Julien Moinil has been sworn in as the new Public Prosecutor of Brussels in the presence of outgoing Minister for Justice Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD).
Moinil took up his duties as the head of Belgium's largest Public Prosecutor's Office late on Thursday morning. He was sworn before the Brussels Court of Appeal and in the presence of Minister Van Tigchelt.
After nearly four years without an appointed head of department, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's office has regained a certain stability in order to carry out its missions as the representative of society in judicial investigations. The prospect of replacement was stalled due to language rules that have since been modified.
Moinil has 'proven himself'
Julien Moinil is a 39-year-old magistrate who earned his stripes as a deputy Public Prosecutor in Brussels, then as a magistrate at the Federal Prosecutor's Office for several years, where he led the prosecution in major drug trafficking trials.
Experience in serious drug-related crime cases will certainly be an asset for the new Royal Prosecutor. Moinil is taking up his duties at a time when the capital has been the scene of numerous shootings in recent months linked to drug trafficker settling.
Outgoing Minister for Justice Paul Van Tigchelt and Julien Moinil. Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
"His priority will be to work well with the Brussels police in the fight against crime linked to drug trafficking, but not only that: crime linked to domestic violence and sexual violence too," Van Tigchelt told Belga News Agency.
"Mr Moinil is someone who has proven himself in the fight against serious and organised crime. He is a hard-working and determined magistrate," the Minister continued "I think he is the man the Brussels public prosecutor's office needs."
'Absolutely irresponsible'
Moinil is succeeding Jean-Marc Meilleur, who left his post almost four years ago on 1 April 2021.
In the meantime, management at the Public Prosecutor's Office has been ensured by two magistrates acting as prosecutors, Tim De Wolf, followed by Marie-Rose Broucker.
In his speech on the occasion of the start of the judicial year on 1 September 2023, former Brussels Public Prosecutor Johan Delmulle called on political leaders to quickly find a solution to appoint a replacement.
"It is absolutely irresponsible that for almost two and a half years, the largest and most important Prosecutor's Office in the country has been operating without a chief of staff appointed by the High Council of Justice," he said at the time.
