On Monday, the Charleroi criminal court handed down sentences of 12 years' imprisonment with a 10-year probation to a 25-year-old man, and seven years' imprisonment, including two years' probation, to his twin brother for sex with a minor.
Their mother, who was charged with failing to assist a person in danger, was acquitted with the benefit of the doubt. The prosecution had requested sentences of fifteen, seven and two years' imprisonment.
On 17 August 2021, a 5-year-old child told her mother about the violence they had suffered when the first defendant was looking after her at home.
The man admitted sexually assaulting her and other minors under the age of 16. He also admitted producing, possessing and distributing child pornography files and incitement to debauchery.
Numerous child pornography files, as well as online discussions with girls under 16 and exchanges with a French paedocriminal, were discovered when the young man's computer equipment was analysed.
His twin brother, for his part, admitted having distributed, produced and possessed child pornography files "under pressure from his brother." He contested the charge of failure to assist a person in danger, as did the mother of the two men, who was prosecuted for this single offence.
The public prosecutor had requested a 15-year prison sentence for the first defendant, who had already received a suspended sentence for similar offences in 2018. Sentences of seven and two years' imprisonment were sought respectively for his twin brother and their mother.
Lawyers for the three defendants had asked for lenient measures and an acquittal.
