Sky ECC-Encrochat trial: 119 convicted in Brussels, 49 immediate arrests
Brussels correctional court handed down 119 convictions in the Encro trial, with sentences of up to 17 years and €65 million in confiscations.
Belgium's largest criminal case closes with 700 years of cumulative prison time
Brussels correctional court pronounced 119 convictions on Tuesday in the framework of the Encro trial, according to RTL. Sentences range from 14 months to 17 years' imprisonment, for a cumulative total of approximately 700 years of detention — unprecedented in Belgian judicial history.
The case concerns the dismantling of a vast criminal organisation, made possible through the police's decryption of encrypted messaging services Encrochat in 2020 and Sky ECC in 2021. One hundred and twenty-four defendants and four companies appeared in what constitutes one of the largest correctional trials ever organised in Belgium, following sixteen months of proceedings.
One hundred and fifteen individuals and the four companies were found guilty on various charges: participation in a criminal organisation, trafficking in narcotics and firearms, attempted extortion and unlawful confinement.
The court ordered 49 immediate arrests, out of the 58 requested by the prosecution. The prosecutor had assessed that these 58 individuals presented a risk of flight or reoffending, the two legal criteria allowing such measures to be sought.
Confiscations ordered amount to €65 million, representing a portion of the profits derived from cocaine and cannabis trafficking in Europe. These profits were often reinvested in real estate, notably abroad. Actual recovery of these sums will depend on cooperation from foreign authorities, a process generally lengthy and complex.
The judgment is subject to appeal within 30 days from the date of pronouncement.
Source: RTL