On October 18, the Charleroi criminal court sentenced five defendants to prison with sentences ranging from 5 to 8 years in prison for thefts with explosives once morest three cash dispensers at the Belfius agency in Montigny-le -Tilleul, at the ING bank in Châtelineau and at the Bpost in Fontaine-l’Évêque between May and July 2019. All within the framework of an association of criminals, including Belgians and Italians.
Denounced by Italy
Each time, the perpetrators of these daring thefts used the same modus operandi, namely the pizza shovel method. The suspects insert the explosives into a ticket outlet of a vending machine to blow up the front face of the vending machine, and collect the bills. This is how the thieves succeeded in their attempt at the Bpost agency in Place Frère Orban, attacked on the night of July 20 to 21, 2019.
This attack was the only one that resulted in the explosion of an ATM. “We do not know the total of the loot stolen, but the tickets were stained by the intelligent ink that was triggered,” reports the prosecution. By the public prosecutor’s own admission, at the outset, no link was established between these three attacks.
In September 2019, the investigation changes when the Italian authorities inform their Belgian counterparts that Italians, under listening in a car, evoke an attack which took place in the region. Among them, Johnny, as well as his brother and his uncle, sentenced on October 18th. Italian police were also investigating similar attacks perpetrated between February and September 2019.
Finally judged in Belgium
This Wednesday morning, Johnny finally appeared before Belgian justice. If the latter did not appear at the same time as the other members of the criminal association, it is because he was not handed over to Belgium following Italian legal proceedings. Sentenced to 11 years in prison, Johnny risks a new heavy legal sentence here.
If at the start, the young man of 24 years disputed having participated in the attack on the Bpost of Fontaine-L’Évêque, he finally admitted his participation in the facts. Johnny also reports having been conditioned in Italy to come and carry out the attack in Belgium. “I was conditioned in Italy. I have a baby and they told me it would allow me to move on and have some money. It ruined my life. »
The prosecution requires for the only attack accused of Johnny a sentence of 8 years in prison. Me Puccini, for the defense, pleads a reprieve, recalling that his client is the youngest of the association, and also the only one to assume his responsibilities following being approached by Radames, his uncle. Judgment on February 9.
