A Liège-based Proxy Delhaize shop manager and his employee have been sentenced to perform community service and given suspended fines after assaulting three alleged thieves.
The manager, frustrated by the growing insecurity and persistent thefts in his Outremeuse neighbourhood, had taken justice into his own hands. He claimed that the police were unresponsive, despite his shop being frequently targeted.
Most of the thefts were reportedly committed by individuals in precarious situations. Instead of routinely employing a security guard, the shopkeeper dealt with the thefts using his own methods.
In October 2022, alleged thieves lodged a complaint against the shop manager and his employee, claiming they were violently treated. The individuals stated that they were forcefully taken to a room and coerced into surrendering their identity or bank cards. They also reported being beaten and searched, with one claiming to have suffered a severe arm injury.
The accused, who had no previous criminal records, faced potential sentences of up to 15 months' imprisonment.
The court dismissed the assault charges but upheld the extortion charges against the two. The manager was sentenced to 100 hours of community service, which could be substituted with a 10-month prison term in the event of non-compliance. He was also given a suspended fine of €400.
His employee received a sentence of 60 hours' community service and a €400 suspended fine.
