The Antwerp Council Chamber decided on Thursday to remand in custody a homeless couple arrested last week for extortion and attempted murder of an 80-year-old man in Boechout.
The two suspects, a 36-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, had been living with the victim.
They allegedly tried to strangle the 80-year-old man and threatened him for money. On Friday 3 January, the couple went with their victim to a bank to empty his account. That was when the police were alerted.
The suspects were arrested and brought before an examining magistrate, who issued them with arrest warrants for attempted murder and extortion.
They appeared on Thursday before the court, which confirmed their detention. Their lawyers did not wish to comment further.
