The parking lot of the shopping center in Wijnegem. This is where the police found the man, sleeping in his car. — © rr
The criminal court of Antwerp has sentenced Khalid B. (23) to 30 months in prison for convincing his girlfriend that he had been kidnapped by rival drug criminals. B. the Belgian State must also pay compensation of almost 22,000 euros.
Joris van der Aa, Sam Reyntjens
Today at 11:25
Khalid ‘Kastaar’ B.’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.
“A whole demonstration of power followed to find Khalid B. alive and well. Surveillance images were requested and telephone and neighborhood investigations were started,” 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. was woken up by a phone call and said he had been released.
349 man hours
“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 failed 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.”
The court imposes the requested thirty-month prison sentence and a fine on B.. In addition, the criminal must also reimburse the costs of the police operation. Khalid B., alias Kastaar, was not present at the trial. He was arrested two weeks ago after waving a weapon in the street. He is currently free on parole.
Tags: Gangster fabricated kidnapping pay euros damages Belgian State Police spent man hours search Antwerp
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