Belgium’s High Council of Justice (CSJ) has decided to open a special investigation into the case of Yassine M., the suspect who attacked two police officers with a knife in Schaerbeek on 10 November, killing one, the CSJ said in a press release on Tuesday evening.
Yassine M. went to a police station that day and openly threatened the police. The public prosecutor’s office was informed and ordered the police, among other things, to accompany him to the psychiatric ward of a hospital. In the early evening, Yassine M. went into action, killing one police officer and injuring another.
“These events have caused a great stir and raised many questions about the actions of the police, the judicial system and the hospital,” the CSJ said. “In the meantime, a judicial investigation has been launched.”
"Special investigations focus on the functioning of the judicial system, not on individual responsibilities"
The High Council of Justice is responsible for independently and objectively investigating any malfunctioning of the judicial system.
“The Advisory and Investigation Commission met and decided today to open a special investigation in the case of Yassine M,” the Council said in its press release. “Any special investigation by the CSJ focuses on the functioning of the judicial system, not on individual responsibilities,” it explained.
“Where appropriate, recommendations are made to ensure that such events do not occur again,” it added.
This is the second time the SCJ has conducted a special enquiry into an ongoing judicial investigation with access to the court file.
“The SCJ will not comment on the facts, nor on the content of judicial decisions: the independence of the judiciary is essential for the proper functioning of the rule of law,” the court stressed.
