Tortured Belgian detainee may serve pre-trial detention with ankle bracelet

Belgian detainee Roy J., who was tortured by his cellmates for days, does not have to return to Antwerp prison. The judge decided that the 41-year-old man can serve his pre-trial detention for the time being with an ankle bracelet. His lawyer told the Belgian newspaper Gazette of Antwerp about his well-being: “Beyond all expectations, he made a speedy physical recovery.” But, she continued: “Mentally, that remains to be seen. He is at the beginning of years of recovery in that area.”

J. was admitted to hospital two weeks ago with serious injuries, including serious burns. Five of the man’s cellmates have been arrested, three of them are suspected of attempted murder, rape, torture and degrading treatment, among other things, the Belgian public prosecutor’s office said. The other two cellmates are considered complicit by the Public Prosecution Service because they did not intervene. The torture went on for days before the guards realized what was happening in the cell. Due to overcrowding in the prison, there were so many inmates in one cell.

The tortured J. was held in pre-trial detention because he is suspected of attempted murder of his ex-partner’s new boyfriend. His cellmates suspected him of being a pedophile. According to the Gazette of Antwerp the perpetrators posted videos on their victim’s messaging app Snapchat, showing him being anally raped with a broomstick and having to eat feces.

Staff shortage

The Belgian parliament is very critical of the responsible Minister of Justice, Paul Van Tigchelt (Open Vld), because of the incident. According to Van Tigchelt, at the time the prisoner was tortured, the minimum number of guards was not met due to a strike. The prison unions deny that there were too few staff. There has been an escalating conflict between the minister and the unions over the employment conditions of the guards for some time.

“I will be the last to point fingers at the staff present or at the strikers,” said Van Tigchelt, “but the minimum services have not functioned as they should. We must re-evaluate the law that has imposed this since 2019 together with the unions.”

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