The man who posed online as ‘Eveline’ in a bid to acquire explicit images and videos of Belgian celebrities will face an open trial.
Attorneys for the defendant, G.R., had asked for a private court hearing, justifying their request by stating that some of the charges against their client involved minors. The civil parties did not oppose a closed trial.
On the other hand, the prosecution requested a public trial due to the case’s “significant social importance.”
The magistrates’ court turned down the request for a private trial on Wednesday. The presiding judge said both the defence and the civil parties had failed to prove that their interests could be seriously damaged by a public trial.
The defence then asked to be allowed to continue representing G.R., who is still in custody. Their client was present at the courthouse but, at the request of the defence, he was not brought to the courtroom.
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A co-defendant from Antwerp, who was allegedly involved in distributing the photos but had been conditionally released, was also not present.
The chamber finally indicted G.R. for computer-related fraud against 14 individuals, non-consensual distribution of sexually explicit images and recordings to the detriment of six individuals, harassment of 13 people, and extortion of one person.
Other charges included voyeurism by recording to the detriment of seven persons, possession and acquisition of child sexual abuse images, and attempted manipulation of computer data to gain unlawful economic advantage.
A total of 14 victims were identified.
The co-defendant was only indicted for non-consensual distribution of explicit images and recordings to the detriment of the three celebrities.
Lawyers Wahib El Hayouni and Jan Donkers also asked the court to release their client on conditions, but the court did not address this request.
“We have not yet decided whether to appeal,” El Hayouni said after the hearing. “Our client is awaiting the hearing of the case in full.”
