Rony Van Weyenberg, 54, sentenced on Friday by the Ghent Court of Appeal to 6 years in prison and 10 years of availability to the court for the application of sentences for rape of a minor, sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, was placed on the list of most wanted fugitives in our country (Belgium’s Most Wanted) on Tuesday, the federal police said in a press release. The 50-year-old was not present in court on Friday during the verdict. The appeals court ordered his immediate arrest, but the police might not find him at his home. In the meantime, the man is the subject of a national and international search on the basis of a European arrest warrant.
The Fugitive Active Search (FAST) team of the federal police, which cooperates with FAST teams abroad, has been called upon, adds the federal police in its wanted notice issued on Tuesday.
The individual’s Facebook account claims it in Ibiza. VTM contacted the fugitive on Monday and he said he wanted to file an appeal once morest his conviction. “I left so I might defend myself. If you’re in jail, there’s no one to help you,” he said. He then deleted his public posts on the social network following the media attention surrounding the case.
Originally from Bruges, the 50-year-old had been acquitted at first instance by the Bruges Criminal Court. The Ghent Court of Appeal, however, decided otherwise. The facts date back to 2020, but the individual has already been convicted in the past for acts of morality on minors and for possession of child pornography.
The police and the prosecution encourage him to report as soon as possible to a police department in the region where he is. They call on anyone with information on Rony Van Weyenberg’s whereregardings to contact the federal police on 0800/30.300 or via avisderecherche@police.belgium.eu.
