2023-08-30 10:38:00
Sven Pichal, former VRT radio host, was placed under electronic surveillance by the Antwerp council chamber on Wednesday, the prosecution said. The man was arrested last week as part of an investigation for possession of child pornography images and was previously detained in Turnhout prison.
The prosecution has 24 hours to appeal the decision of the council chamber.
A complaint was lodged in mid-August with the Antwerp police zone. “These were very serious facts,” said prosecutor spokesman Kristof Aerts from the outset. “As a public prosecutor, we therefore did not hesitate for a second to seize an investigating judge on the same day (on which the complaint was filed), which gave rise to the opening of a judicial investigation. This led to several searches and arrests,” continued the spokesperson.
A total of five people have been arrested in connection with the case. “A 39-year-old man was released following a hearing, a 42-year-old man was released on conditions and the other three – men aged 34, 35 and 44 – were placed on arrest warrants for detention and dissemination. images of a child pornography nature”, indicated Mr. Aerts. The man benefiting from a conditional release is prosecuted only for the possession of such images.
Among those placed under arrest warrant is Sven Pichal. In the wake of his arrest, the 40-year-old announced through his lawyer that he was leaving the VRT with immediate effect, where he notably presented the consumer program “De Inspecteur” on Radio 2.
A psychiatric expert has been appointed to assess the mental health of the four men charged. They communicated on the internet. “The investigation is continuing,” concluded the prosecution, stressing that each file is examined separately.
Sven Pichal’s lawyers, Mes Walter Damen and Davina Simons, declined to comment following the hearing.
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