The trial on the 42-day kidnapping of a 13-year-old Genk son of a drug lord in the spring of 2020 will start at the Tongeren Assize Court on Tuesday. Eight accused must stand trial, but two of them seem to have disappeared without a trace.
On the morning of 21 April 2020, four men disguised as police officers entered the 13-year-old boy's parental home in Genk and kidnapped him. They demanded €4 million to €5 million in ransom from his family.
The T. family paid approximately €300,000 in two instalments and another €30,000 in cash, gold and jewellery. 42 days after the kidnapping, on 1 June 2020 (Whit Monday), the boy was released and the federal judicial police made arrests in Antwerp and Limburg. This made it the longest kidnapping in Belgium in which a ransom was demanded and paid.
'Kamp' trial
At the three locations where the boy was held, he was never allowed outside. The room he stayed in was always locked. He was allowed to play PlayStation and watch Netflix, among other things. While held in a building in Houthalen-Helchteren, he was given frozen pizzas, crab salad sandwiches, fries, yoghurt, and shawarma to eat, among other things.
The boy, who was usually held in a hidden room and could only make contact via a baby monitor, sometimes heard the voices of his kidnappers or of children who also lived in the building. His family received two signs of life during the kidnapping: via a Polaroid photo of the boy tied to a bed without clothes in the mailbox, and a sound recording of his voice.
The trial has been given the name "Kamp" because the boy stayed with his parents on the Kampstraat in Genk.
Lawyer Abdel Belkhourinchia and Lawyer Jan Keulen pictured during the composition of the jury for the trial of eight accused, on trial for the kidnapping of a boy from Genk. Credit: Belga/Jill Delsaux
Muslim extremist Khalid Bouloudo and seven others will have to answer for the kidnapping. Bouloudo (50) is on trial with his 56-year-old brother Aziz and three brothers from Antwerp: Mohamed L. (41), Abderrahman L. (31), and Yassine L. (29). Additionally, Omar L. from the Netherlands, Gulhan Y. (36), from Zutendaal, and Yousef A. (41) from Houthalen, are on trial. Some 70 witnesses will be heard during the trial.
The Public Prosecutor's Office had anticipated that the accused, who are not behind bars, would report on Friday morning, but Gulhan Y. did not show up. During a police raid in Antwerp last week, it became clear that Abderrahman L. had also been on the run for some time.
A number of the accused have been known to the courts for some time. For example, Dutchman Omar L. previously cut off his ankle bracelet and jumped into the Scheldt river during a police chase.
Meanwhile, the three Antwerp brothers L. kidnapped and assaulted a 37-year-old man in February 2020. The man was held for five days in Antwerp and Anderlecht respectively and was seriously injured. The three brothers will soon also have to answer to the court for this crime.
Gulhan Y., who was in Bouloudo's car when he was arrested, had more than €15,000 worth of banknotes in his underwear. The building in Houthalen-Helchteren where the 13-year-old boy was housed for a while was his property.
Chair of the court Jo Daenen pictured during the composition of the jury for the trial of eight accused. Credit: Belga/Jill Delsaux
The victim, who is now 18 years old, will be allowed to tell his story on 5 May. The hearing of witnesses is expected to last until 12 May. The pleadings will then take place.
Judge Jo Daenen will chair the debates. The 12-member jury consists of six women and six men. The trial starts on Tuesday 22 April and will last three to four weeks.
The accused and the eight civil parties will be assisted by a total of 20 lawyers.
Leave handbags at home
In the city of Tongeren, where the trial will be held, there will be increased police vigilance from Tuesday morning. The local Haspengouw police zone already sent out a warning on Monday that spectators who want to go to the courthouse on the Vrijthof should leave their handbags or other bags at home.
Anyone who might be curious is asked not to bring a handbag, backpack, hip bag or anything similar to the courthouse. This is just one of the many security measures that will be in force during the assize trial that could last three to four weeks.
Several of the accused, including Khalid Bouloudo, are linked to the Muslim extremist milieu. They belong to the so-called "Groep van Maaseik". Bouloudo himself was also mentioned in the file of the GICM (Groupe Islamique Combattant Marocain) or the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group.
