A 32-year-old man from Liège was sentenced on Friday by the Liège Criminal Court to 12 years in prison and five years probation for rape, sexual assault and incitement to debauchery against his nieces and nephews.
Three other family members were also convicted of the same offences. The case came to light after the United States authorities reported it as part of an investigation into the distribution and possession of images of sexual assaults on children.
A search of the premises confirmed that one of the victims was the defendant's niece and that she had been raped and sexually assaulted.
In total, the investigation revealed the main defendant committed the acts on five victims. Three girls, nieces of the defendant, had been raped and sexually assaulted when they were between four and ten years old. Two young boys, his nephews, had been incited to debauchery and to take part in sexual scenes.
The main perpetrator was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and five years' probation. His accomplice in the offence of distributing and possessing images of sexual assaults on children was sentenced to two years probation and a five-year suspended sentence.
The victims' mother and grandmother, who were accomplices, also received suspended sentences of 12 months and 18 months.
