Man made up hostage situation so girlfriend would break up with him, police demand compensation (Domestic)

The public prosecutor has demanded thirty months in prison and a 1,600 euro fine against Khalid B. from Antwerp, who had made it appear last year that he was being held hostage. It turned out that B. had made everything up in the hope that his girlfriend would dump him.

The defendant’s girlfriend had raised the alarm with the police during the night of April 26 to 27, 2023. She had received a message from her boyfriend in which he cried and said that he was being held hostage. He was in her car and the hostage-taker threatened to blow it up if 10,000 euros was not paid. She thought that the hostage situation may have been part of a feud after drug-related events.

Power development

“A whole demonstration of power followed to find Khalid B. alive and well. Surveillance images were requested, telephone and neighborhood investigations were started, etc.,” the prosecutor said.

After thorough investigation, the suspect was found sleeping in a car in a parking lot in Wijnegem later that day. The police kept an eye on the vehicle for some time, but saw no possible hostage taker. Khalid B. got a wake-up call and said he had been released.

“The defendant eventually confessed that he had made everything up. He wanted his girlfriend to ‘get tired’ of him and end their relationship,” the prosecutor said. Khalid B. is being prosecuted for forgery, because he had an official report drawn up based on incorrect information. The man fails to appear at his trial.

The Belgian State filed civil proceedings. “The federal judicial police of Antwerp spent 349 man hours on the search for the defendant. That amounts to an amount of 21,895 euros, which we claim as compensation,” said master Liliane Dierckx.

Verdict on April 23.

(blg)