The case began in 2015, when a man reported that he was a victim of sexual abuse by a 63-year-old retired postman named Willy Jaminon from Gemmenich. Jaminon was known for taking young people under his wing and had a property with horses where they might play. He would show pornographic films and participate in group sex sessions with minors, according to the victims. Jaminon was accused of raping and sexually assaulting 23 victims between 2000 and 2018. Some victims described the abuse as “the price of paradise.” Jaminon confessed to causing psychological damage to his victims. He was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison, but the Court of Appeal reduced it to 7 years due to the lower risk of recidivism. The Court did not order the enforcement of sentences.
The investigation began in 2015 following the denunciation of a man who claimed to have been the victim during his youth of the actions of a 63-year-old resident of Gemmenich, a retired postman.
Willy Jaminon, the defendant, was described as a manipulator who was in contact with young people and took them under his wing. He had horses and a property where young people might play.
It was in these circumstances that the defendant had first touched and then raped minors. The man offered to watch pornographic films and participate in group sex sessions.
Between his 25 years and his 61 years, the defendant would have made 23 victims. The acts committed between 1983 and 1999 had reached the statute of limitations.
The defendant was still answerable for the rape of a teenager and for attacks on the sexual integrity committed on a teenager, between 2000 and 2018.
The price of paradise…
They had indicated that they had fun at the defendant’s place where there were lots of great activities. And the acts of morals, confided a victim, it was “the price of paradise”.
The sexagenarian, in confession when he was not so clearly at first instance, said he was aware that he caused “psychological damage” to his victims.
He faced a 12-year prison sentence, because according to the prosecution the risk of recidivism was “enormous”.
The Court of Appeal, however, moderated the penalty requested by the prosecution and sentenced the defendant to a 7-year prison term. That is less than the sentence that Jaminon had received before the criminal court of Verviers, which had sentenced him to 12 years in prison last July.
The availability to the court of the enforcement of sentences requested by the prosecution was not pronounced by the Court of Appeal.
In conclusion, the case of Willy Jaminon, the manipulative postman who sexually abused and raped minors over a period of decades in Gemmenich, has come to a close. The defendant was ultimately sentenced to a 7-year prison term by the Court of Appeal, which moderated the penalty requested by the prosecution. While this may seem like a lenient sentence considering the number of victims and the harm caused to them, it is nevertheless a significant punishment and a victory for justice. Let us hope that this case serves as a warning to other predators who would seek to prey on vulnerable children and teenagers, and that victims of sexual abuse find the courage to speak up and seek justice.
