The Hal-Vilvoorde Public Prosecutor’s office requested a three-year prison sentence on Thursday for a police commissioner accused of rape and sexual assault against two women.
The incidents allegedly occurred in 2014 and 2019, although the defendant denies the charges.
The case began when a 32-year-old woman filed a complaint in June 2019 against Commissioner J.R. The 60-year-old officer was working as a political adviser at the Permanent Local Police Commission.
A month prior, he had attended a two-day seminar at a hotel in Machelen, organised by a digital communication company. The plaintiff, an employee of this company, claims the commissioner followed her to her hotel room and raped her.
During the investigation, a second incident was uncovered, allegedly taking place in 2014. Investigators interviewed J.R.’s former partners, and one of them stated she had also been a victim of sexual assault. Years after their break-up, the accused and the plaintiff had met by chance. She claims the commissioner forced her to perform oral sex in a restaurant car park.
The defence argued in court that there was no rape or assault, asserting that everything had occurred with mutual consent. "Close colleagues testified that they were both flirting the night before the alleged incident in Machelen. Moreover, the day after the alleged rape, they were clearly trying to get closer. A rape victim does not seek the company of their rapist the next day," the defence counsel stated.
The verdict is expected on 19 December.
