Twenty-two defendants are facing charges of sham marriages, human trafficking, and use of counterfeit documents in the court of Bruges.
The group allegedly organised a series of sham marriages between Portuguese women and Pakistani men to facilitate the men's stay in Belgium.
The prosecution is seeking confiscation of nearly €1 million and three buildings in Anderlecht.
The investigation began in 2015 when several of the mixed-nationality couples set up residence in Ypres. The scrutiny revealed these unions were not regularly established.
Using counterfeit Portuguese documents, dozens of marriages were registered in Belgium, enabling the Pakistani husbands to enjoy residency rights. After some time, the Portuguese wives simply returned to their homeland.
On 15 January 2019, eighteen searches were conducted in Ypres and the Brussels region, including several properties in Anderlecht.
The Pakistani men were hired as workers by Anderlecht companies and tasked with selling clothes in various markets.
The alleged activities began in autumn 2012.
The accused include Zawar W., a 51-year-old seen as the ringmaster. Following a marriage in Portugal, he is said to have stayed in Belgium before returning to Pakistan as part of the operation.
Three of W.’s cousins, Qamar (47), Shahid (45), and Khizar A. (42), reportedly orchestrated the operation from Anderlecht. Apart from the twenty Pakistani men, a Portuguese woman and a Guinean accountant also face charges.
For practical reasons, the case was adjourned on Wednesday morning. The hearings will resume on 13 and 14 March.
