Homeless man threatens OCMW employee with death because he wanted more living allowance: eight-month suspended prison sentence (Bruges)

A 27-year-old resident of Bruges has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence before the Bruges court for threatening to kill an employee of the OCMW. FH felt that he received too little living wage.

The defendant is homeless and sought guidance from the Bruges OCMW for his financial problems. Since May, however, FH has demanded his living wage more and more and earlier. When an employee made it clear to him that this was not possible, he threatened to kill her with a knife. “He would also send some Albanian friends to her home,” explained prosecutor Fauve Nowé. “He also threatened several times with a wooden stick and even broke a door. It got to the point where employees were afraid to come to work.”

On June 8, the police found FH bare-chested and barefoot near the Sint-Pietersplas in Bruges. He was under the influence of drugs and turned out to be for questioning in another case. When the police wanted to take him to the police station, he started hitting and kicking. He threatened the officers with death and said he would set the police station on fire. He also called them “pedos”, which also resulted in him being prosecuted for defamation.

According to the defense, H. carries a trauma from childhood sexual abuse. “It is therefore difficult for him when he is physically approached,” says master Daphné Florequin, who successfully managed on conditions. “This way he can tackle his psychological problems.” (AFT)