The body of a 9-year-old boy, Raul, was found in the Ghent harbour dock last week. His stepfather (34) was arrested this weekend, announced the East Flanders Public Prosecutor's Office.
Investigators found Raul's body on Thursday in the Houtdok in Ghent, in summer a popular place for sunbathers. The boy died on 31 January at 04:00 after being tortured in the presence of his mother Yoana M. (30), his 12-year-old sister and his stepfather, Nicu C. His mother and stepfather hid his body in a sports bag, weighed it down with some stones and then threw him into the water.
The family came from Romania and was not registered in Belgium but the parents reportedly worked in a West Flemish meat factory. What the locals and other acquaintances did not realise was that Raul had been missing since the end of January, De Standaard reports.
No one knew that the boy was severely abused by his stepfather for months: Raul was often beaten with a belt and his stepfather sometimes poured ice-cold or scalding hot water over him. On 31 January, Raul did not survive the torture but instead of calling the emergency services, his mother and stepfather hid his body in a sports bag.
Wanted internationally
The family was able to hide Raul's death for a long time: his mother posted several photos of herself together with her son and daughter in February. It was not until 31 March that she changed her profile picture to a fully black one – as if in mourning. She also no longer had any photos online with the boy's stepfather, Het Nieuwsblad reports.
By contrast, stepfather Nicu C. has regularly posted pictures of himself online since February. In the meantime, he had been wanted internationally for several days for the boy's death after a text message began to circulate in the Romanian family of the boy. Eventually, one of Raul's uncles, who lives in Germany, came to Belgium to report the disappearance.
This week, Raul's mother and sister were questioned. Among other things, the sister's statements led the police to the water at the Houtdok.
