Former lawyer Sofian B. was sentenced to 40 months' imprisonment on Tuesday in the Brussels magistrates’ court on charges including making threats against Eridan M.G., one of the main defendants in the Encro trial.
The case, which relates to a criminal organisation involved in drug trafficking, emerged following the decryption of the Encrochat and Sky ECC messaging systems in 2020-2021.
In December 2021, Sofian B. went to the Namur prison where Eridan M.G. was being held. According to Eridan M.G., the lawyer explained that he had gone there on behalf of the ‘Antwerp man’ and that he wanted to recover ‘the merchandise’ or the money. He then referred to what happens to bad payers in the milieu.
Sofian's defence, however, disputed this version and asked the court to take the statements made by the head of the network with a grain of salt, as the former lawyer claimed that he did not know what his accuser was talking about.
Sofian maintained that he had gone to the prison as a business lawyer to recover seized assets. However, according to his counsel, he had panicked when he learned that police were investigating his account and had fabricated a false invoice to make his visit appear legal.
The Office of the Federal Prosecutor charged that, in addition to attempted extortion and forgery, the former lawyer was a member of a criminal organisation and had been involved in cocaine trafficking. The OPP requested five years' imprisonment.
Following the judgement, the OPP requested Soufian's immediate arrest. Prosecutor Julien Moinil pointed to his various trips abroad and the fact that he had sufficient funds to flee Belgium, among other things.
The defence disagreed. "His work, home, children, diplomas, social circle... It's all here. Where would he go?" it retorted.
The court will rule at the end of the hearing on the request for immediate arrest.
