Armenian father from Oostende sentenced to 22 months in prison for abducting daughter (14)
A 34-year-old man from Armenia who forcibly dragged his 14-year-old daughter into his car has been sentenced to 22 months in prison on appeal.
Armenian father from Oostende sentenced to 22 months in prison for abducting daughter (14)
A 34-year-old man of Armenian origin has been sentenced by the court of appeal to 22 months' imprisonment. He had forcibly removed his 14-year-old daughter from a McDonald's in Oostende and forced her into his car.
The girl was under the guardianship of her grandmother because the father had previously been convicted multiple times. He had eight convictions for violence and two for threats on his criminal record. CCTV footage showed him grabbing the child by the hand in front of the grandmother's eyes. Later, police managed to stop him.
Following his arrest, the man was fitted with an electronic ankle monitor, but he cut it off and went on the run. Eventually he was traced again.
His solicitor argued that the father had taken his daughter because he feared that she would leave for Armenia with her grandmother. He would never see her again.
The man also received ten months in prison for forgery. At each police contact, he gave his brother's name in turn. He did this a total of eight times. On appeal, the sentence for the abduction was increased from ten to twelve months. The sentence for identity fraud remained unchanged.
Source: Het Nieuwsblad – https://www.nieuwsblad.be/regio/west-vlaanderen/middenkust/oostende/armeen-die-dochtertje-14-ontvoerde-krijgt-22-maanden-cel/158126107.html
Source: Nieuwsblad