The Public Prosecutor's Office of the West Flanders province wants to prosecute two prison directors for drug possession. The investigation started when a prisoner recognised the director from a drug party.
The ball started rolling last summer. In the detention centre of Kortrijk, a prisoner recognised the prison director from a drug party and reportedly started blackmailing her, Het Laatste Nieuws and VRT reports.
This immediately marked the start of a judicial investigation. On 1 July, the police raided the prison of Bruges, where the director's ex-partner works. At that time, he was deputy director at the facility. He worked with his wife in the prison of Bruges for years, but she went to work in Kortrijk after their divorce.
The investigation shows that the two regularly used drugs together, which – given their position – made them vulnerable to blackmail. The investigation looked into whether they also smuggled drugs into the prison, but has now found that they did not: it would only concern drug possession.
Disciplinary procedure
Now, the question is whether the investigation will lead to a trial. The council chamber wanted to give the two a suspended sentence. In practice, this means that they will be considered guilty, but will not receive a sentence. It would also mean that there is no trail.
However, the Public Prosecutor's Office does not agree and has filed an appeal, as it does want to prosecute the duo. It will now be up to the Indictment Chamber in Ghent to make the final decision. No date has been set.
In addition to the judicial investigation, an internal investigation into the two, who are currently suspended, is also ongoing. The prison service confirmed to VRT that a disciplinary procedure has been ongoing for several months, but they do not want to go into any individual case in more detail.
There too, the two have to wait until the disciplinary procedure is completed, but they both risk punishment there too – ranging from a reprimand to dismissal.
