Local police in Antwerp discovered on Friday 18 Ukrainian refugees who were living in appalling conditions in a building for which they were paying 500 euros a month. An investigation has been opened for acts of “sleep merchant”. The victims were transferred to a reception center. “These people who fled the war are not all registered in our country, explains Wouter Bruyns, spokesperson for the Antwerp police. This will have to be done so that we can help them in the fairest way. Their case will be handled by the services of the city of Antwerp.”
The refugees, 18 Ukrainians including three children and a pregnant woman, lived in small rooms and slept on mattresses on the floor. The premises were placed under seal. The building is located in Korte Leem Street. The owner is suspected of having intentionally rented out unsanitary property. “He claims not to be aware of all these comings and goings and to ignore that so many people lived in this accommodation”reports our journalist Halima Moane Sahli, sent on site for RTLINFO. The owner says he thinks the property would have been sublet.
