The National Employment Office (Onem) is looking into whether the former president of the Flemish Parliament, Kris Van Dijck, helped the call girl he used to meet to fraudulently receive unemployment benefits.
Belgium's employment minister, Wouter Beke confirmed his office is investigating the case.
Van Dijck is the former president of the Flemish Parliament and is alleged to have met regularly with a sex worker who goes by the name Escort Lynn.
Lynn worked for E-Media, which filed for bankruptcy shortly after taking her on. E-Media's bankruptcy would allow Lynn to receive unemployment benefits and cover for social health insurance when she lost her job.
“Escort Lynn” approached the FFE (a fund for workers made redundant due to bankruptcy) and tried to claim 26,000 euros in compensation: she eventually received 5,239 euros.
Van Dijck asked then Employment minister Kris Peeters, who had just taken office, to help with her case.
Onem is currently trying to ascertain whether the prostitute has fraudulently claimed unemployment benefits. If it turns out to be the case, the escort could also be finded, according to the employment minister's office.
In fraud cases, Onem has five years to reclaim unemployment benefits.
The Brussels Times
