The Verviers magistrates' court on Wednesday sentenced three persons to prison terms ranging from one to three years for selling cocaine in a housing estate.
The men had been summoned to appear in court but only the two who were detained were present. The third was never arrested.
The trio were accused of selling cocaine in the Lainière housing estate. The two defendants present at the hearing were accused of being the sellers, while the third was suspected of being the head of the ring.
The case dates back to May, when an arrest was made on the Promenade des Récollets in Verviers. During a search, €1,625 in small bills and two mobile phones were found.
The mobile phones' data showed that the three individuals were connected, and several witnesses also identified the two defendants as the sellers, and the third as the head of the group.
However, the two detainees explained to the court that they did not know the man designated as the leader of the gang. They also denied selling the drugs, even though more than a dozen testimonies from addicts described them perfectly as their suppliers, always operating as a pair.
The two only admitted to being regular users.
Despite their denials, the court ruled that the charges had been established.
