Leaked emails pile the pressure on former president of Flemish parliament hit by fraud accusations
New email correspondence allegedly exchanged between the former president of the Flemish Parliament and a professional escort was published on Monday, piling further pressure on the resigned politician already under federal scrutiny over allegations he helped the escort commit fraud.
Kris Van Dijck resigned last week as President of the Flemish Parliament amid accusations that he helped an escort obtain a fraudulent bankruptcy payout of €5,339 with the help of a former federal minister.
On Monday, the tabloid magazine who ignited the affair doubled down on the accusations, publishing screenshots of a new email which they say was sent by the escort to Van Dijck.
In the email, the escort thanks "Kris V.D" for a health care scheme through which she receives €1,800 each month, adding: "next week I will be better and I can spoil you."
The authenticity of the new emails is not confirmed, and the former president and his cabinet have not commented on the new developments, according to Het Nieuwsblad.
As the allegations picked up steam last week, former minister of employment, Kris Peeters, who allegedly helped speed up the escort's payout, confirmed that the compensation payment had been made but said that the first emails the tabloid published "could not be found."
The new emails come as the PVDA issued a call for a special ethical committee in parliament to investigate its former president.
The federal employment office has opened an investigation into the allegations against Van Dijck, who had already landed in hot water after causing a car accident while driving under the influence last week.
Gabriela Galindo
The Brussels Times
