Examination fraud magistrates: three suspects referred to Belgian court of appeal
Three Belgian magistrates must stand trial for conflict of interest and breach of professional secrecy following fraud in the magistrate examination.
Three magistrates prosecuted for examination fraud in magistrate examination
Three Belgian magistrates must answer to the court of appeal for conflict of interest and breach of professional secrecy. This is reported by Google News BE NL on the basis of a decision by the Brussels Chamber of Indictment.
The fraud in the magistrate examination came to light in March 2024. The investigation revealed that the Ghent advocate-general C.B., who was at that time also a member of the High Council for the Judiciary, had provided examination questions in advance to a prosecuting officer who took the examination.
B. is said to have moreover passed on the papers to the Ypres deputy public prosecutor J.L. and to the Bruges deputy public prosecutor Y.S. Both men are said to have subsequently passed on the questions to their children, who also sat the examination.
The Brussels public prosecutor's office had urged that four persons be referred to the court of appeal, including the Ghent advocate-general Johanna E. She is said to have passed on details of one examination to two prosecuting officers, but was cleared of prosecution on Monday and does not have to answer to the court.
No concrete trial date has been set. The three prosecuted magistrates are being tried for conflict of interest — an offence that occurs when a civil servant becomes involved in matters incompatible with his official function — and for breach of professional secrecy.
In the wake of the investigation, several persons involved were already dismissed from their posts. C.B. lost his position as advocate-general in Ghent. The West Flemish magistrate couple Y.S. and E.W. was dismissed earlier this year, as was prosecuting officer A.V., who received examination questions, and the Ypres deputy public prosecutor J.L.
Source: Google News BE NL