Debt of 25 euros leads to violent punitive expedition in Riemst: six men get up to 30 months in prison

Car keys

The suspects went to the house for the first time on the day of the offense at 4 p.m. “A skirmish involving pushing and shoving ensued. The victim’s car key was taken away and they left with his car as collateral for the 25 euro debt,” the prosecutor said. The 65-year-old father told the judge that it was not a theft. According to him, he only picked up the car to carry out repairs. “I was asked that and it was agreed,” the man said. The victim’s counsel denied this. “My client felt forced to hand over his keys. He was surrounded, grabbed and threatened.”

Theft of a television

After the first threatening visit, it didn’t stop. Around 6 p.m., part of the group returned to the victim’s home. “One of them rang the doorbell and when the door opened, they all entered again,” the lawyer continued. “It involved long and far-reaching violence. My client was abused for ten minutes without being given the opportunity to escape or defend himself.” The men then stole the victim’s television. Both the car and the television were found during the investigation from the man in his thirties and his father. Snapchat conversations between the suspects show that they still talked about the violence among themselves.

Suspension

The Tongeren judge found the six defendants guilty of the facts. The 30-year-old Riemste resident receives a prison sentence of thirty months and a fine of 1,600 euros, coupled with a conditional deferral. His 65-year-old father is favored by the suspension due to his clean criminal record. He is guilty but he will not be punished if he does not commit any new crimes for five years. The four other people involved were sentenced to community service of 100 and 150 hours and suspended fines of 800 euros. The victim receives compensation of 1,500 euros.