A 34-year-old Romanian man was arrested last night in the Brabant village of Bakel in connection with the death of a nine-year-old boy from Belgium. This is reported by the Brabant police. The boy was found in the water at the Houtdok in Ghent on Thursday. He had been missing since early this year.
His mother was arrested yesterday, her partner turned out to be on the run. Whether the arrested man is a partner, the police cannot say. The East Flemish public prosecutor’s office, which is responsible for the case, is not available for explanation. However, this man was the only one still wanted in the case. According to the Flemish newspaper De Morgen, this is the boy’s stepfather.
Died after severe assault
The boy probably died early this year after being badly beaten. His body was found in the water on Thursday, close to where he lived with his mother and sister (11), reports the VRT. The boy’s body was in a sports bag.
The VRT has spoken to the mother’s lawyer. According to the lawyer, she is suspected of “hiding the body and manslaughter”. The lawyer also says that the sister pointed out to the police where to look for the body.
Delivered on Monday
A European arrest warrant had been issued for the man’s arrest. The Romanian without permanent residence or residence will be brought before the court in Amsterdam on Monday, with a view to his surrender to the Belgian authorities.
The Flemish newspaper De Gentenaar writes that the boy came from a ‘problem family’.
- Dumped body in Ghent appears to be missing 9-year-old boy, mother arrested
