On Thursday, the public prosecutor of Liège requested that the 18th Chamber of the Court of Appeals of Liège sentence the former mayor of Huy and Senator Anne-Marie Lizin to a one year suspension and a 5-year ban from public office. She is charged with organizing distributions of propaganda material by city employees during working hours. Thirteen people were said to have participated or organized these distributions during the 2006 parliamentary elections. Found guilty, Anne- Marie Lizin, was sentenced to a serve a one-year suspended sentence and banned from public office for 5 years.
Anne-Marie Lizin appealed her conviction. The prosecution also appealed the verdict against Anne-Marie Lizin, the town clerk and three employees. Only the town clerk appeared before the court in person. He was acquitted at trial.
Apprently, the administration’s accounting of employee benefits was chaotic and staff had indeed carried out electoral procedures during their working hours during the parliamentary elections.
The prosecution presented evidence of forgery and embezzlement by the officials. Anne-Marie Lizin faces a one- year suspended sentence and a five year ban from office. The town clerk a possible one year suspended sentence and a fine of 500 euros. The prosecution did not oppose measures in favor of the suspension of the three employees.
Various lawyers for the defense will appear in court to argue the case on September 25th.
(Source: Belga)
