Police in Lommel in Limburg province have put out a call on social media for any business affected by the collapse of the Vestiville festival last weekend to come forward.
Yesterday two of the organisers of the festival, which in fact never took place leaving some 30,000 ticket-holders high and dry, were released from detention. They face charges of fraud and providing false payment receipts to suppliers to convince them to advance the festival services such as lighting and sound.
The two are Dutch citizens of Cambodian origin, brother and sister Ravuth and Aymira Ty. A third organiser, the British man Nick Chawda, was released last weekend after being questioned by an investigating magistrate in Hasselt.
Now police want to contact all suppliers, in order to “protect their rights and allow a more thorough investigation,” a police spokesperson said. Those who have not already been contacted can get in touch by phone on 011/399.899 or by email at recherche@politie.lommel.be.
The festival was cancelled on Friday by the mayor of Lommel for reasons of safety, at a moment when thousands of ticket-holders had already arrived for the event. Mayor Bob Nijs ordered electricity and water suppliers to continue to provide power and water for the site, to allow festival-goers to eat, drink and wash while they made arrangements to go home again. The commune then filed to join the case as civil parties to recoup those costs.
As far as the ticket-holders are concerned, those who bought their tickets via Eventbrite or Festicket have been assured by the two platforms that they will be reimbursed. A one-day ticket for the event cost 78.85 euros, or 202.60 euros for the three days of the festival – and more than twice as much for VIP tickets.
Alan Hope
The Brussels Times
