2023-11-26 09:01:00
Sarah (not her real name) walks alone, proud and insolent, into the courtroom of the Brussels Courthouse where French-speaking cases from the Hal-Vilvoorde district are being processed. Light makeup highlights her dark eyes. Nothing seems to impress him: neither the magistrates, nor the decorum, nor the procedure. “Do you know what you are accused of?”, begins the president. The defendant cuts him off straight away: “It’s totally false!”. The 34-year-old young woman clearly wants to fight the law. “If I had money, I would have hired a lawyer,” she says, bravado. She has piercing eyes.
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A big party during a new outbreak of the virus
In January 2022, Sarah received, by default, a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 4,000 euros. She objected. Why wasn’t she present at his first trial? She rolls her eyes in exasperation. “I did not receive the mail. It’s a mailbox problem. The postman delivered it to the wrong person.”
The magistrate continues, imperturbable. “And the police commissioner, was he also wrong? Or did he lie? Why did he say that you offered him an envelope with money?” The defendant remains vindictive: “Frankly, if I had an idea, I would not be here”.
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The facts date back to April 2021, during the third Covid wave. The Zennevallei police zone, which is very keen on respecting “Corona measures” during this new outbreak of the virus, receives anonymous information: a large number of people are said to have gathered at a private address in Leeuw-Saint-Pierre. A team goes to the site, led by the commander. The police notice that tables are set with beautiful, nicely decorated tablecloths. It’s obviously a wedding party. Around thirty people are present.
“Forget” Covid fines for guests
“Were you there during this search?” asks the president. The defendant refuses: “It is not my home and I am not an event organizer”. The magistrate loses a little of his composure: “But you were present at a wedding party in the middle of Covid!”. Sarah must agree. “Yes, I arrived on the scene.” A place in Leeuw-Saint-Pierre that the defendant knew?, asks the King’s prosecutor. The young woman goes off on a tangent. “I don’t know the exact address…” The prosecution is surprised. “It’s my mother who lives there,” she finally admits.
When the police arrived, one of the daughters of the family – Sarah – insisted on talking, aside, with the commissioner. She offered him an envelope so that he would forget about the Covid fines for guests and stop the search. So that the party continues… The head of the body was precise: it was a large envelope which contained smaller ones – the kitty intended for the newlyweds.
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The defendant lets out a big sigh
“It wasn’t you who said these unfortunate words?” asks the president. “I think he got the wrong person. I didn’t have my ID card. I did not show it to the police.” She rears up.
The president extends a pole to Sarah, who does not have a lawyer: “If the court were to consider that the facts were established, would you agree to a work sentence?” The defendant, employed in a gym, retorts: “I don’t have time with my job”.
The King’s prosecutor speaks. Faced with the vague and fluctuating responses of the defendant, there is no reason to question the statement of the police commissioner, he summarizes. There is not a shadow of a doubt. But in order not to darken Sarah’s criminal record and not hinder her professional future, he is not opposed to a work sentence. “But if she is not interested, I propose to confirm the first judgment.”
A little runny rimmel
Sarah lets out a heavy sigh. She has lost her splendor. The president returns the floor – the last word goes to the defense. “Maybe the commissioner was wrong. There were other people. He took someone at random. It fell on me.” She no longer seems to completely believe what she is saying.
The president throws him a new buoy. “Do you stay in this state of mind? Some people, overcome by stress, do things they later regret.” Sarah gives him a dark look. “I’m not going to serve a prison sentence anyway! A work sentence, I have no choice…”
She furtively rubs her eye. A little Rimmel leaks out.
Judgment on December 20.
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