A woman from Denderwindeke accuses the defendant of stealing 20 euros in a local supermarket. The lady had placed the money next to her shopping bag at the cash register, but afterwards had to get some extra money from her car to pay her bill. When she returned, the note was gone. Camera images showed how the customer behind her, a man in his forties from Galmaarden, appeared to be putting something in his wallet that looked very much like the money. The man was convicted in the criminal court of Dendermonde, but did not agree to it and appealed, so the court of appeal had to consider the case.
“It may only be 20 euros, but for me this is a matter of principle,” the victim wrote in the Ghent court of appeal. In court, the man made it clear that he did not deliberately suppress the money and that there may have been a mistake. “Don’t you have 20 euros with you now? Then you can give it directly to the victim and the matter has already been resolved,” the chairman said. The defendant then stated that he would do so after the hearing. The chairman seemed to be pushing to give the defendant community service because it is clear from the images that he stashed the money. Judgment on May 31.
