“Vanden Boeynants’ kidnapping sponsored by a Belgian businessman”

“Vanden Boeynants’ kidnapping sponsored by a Belgian businessman”

The abduction 30 years ago of former Belgian Prime Minister Paul Vanden Boeynants was sponsored by a Belgian businessman who disagreed with him, Etienne Delhuvenne, gangster Patrick Haemers’ attorney for ten years, claims in Saturday DH and Het Laatste Nieuws. “I know the name of this man who emerged in another case. This is why Patrick Haemers believed he would be acquitted: when in the witness box, he intended to reveal the person (or persons) who had ordered the kidnapping. His suicide, supposing it was a suicide, prevented the names from coming out,” the former lawyer said.

The sponsor of the abduction had apparently deposited 5 million Belgian francs (125,000 euros) on Patrick Haemers’ bank account in South America, according to Etienne Delhuvenne.

“After Haemers’ death, I gave the evidence to the Commissioner X, who found the bank account, on which there were not 5, but 10 million Belgian francs. The additional 5 million came from the paid ransom. All of these aspects remained concealed, and Haemers, having died in his cell, was no longer there to talk.”

Patrick Haemers died on 4 May 1993. On Monday, it will be 30 years since he and his gang kidnapped “VDB,” as the former Prime Minister was called.

The Brussels Times


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