Belgian Burglar Gang Targets Homes During Funerals, Hundreds of Thefts Reported

Scrutinizing obituaries to better burglarize! This was the modus operandi of Nassim and his accomplices. According to the Belgian justice system, he would have committed 500 burglaries of this kind. At each funeral, they operated with complete impunity. Repeated thefts. Except that the police eventually identified members of the gang last summer.

While Nassim was on the run, the investigating judge, Devaux, in Arlon, issued a European arrest warrant against him. Last August, the suspect was spotted and arrested in France. His extradition will follow a month later to Belgium, where he will be incarcerated in the Arlon prison. During his extradition, Nassim adheres to the principle of specialty. In December last year, the investigating judge, Devaux, hears him again, and asks him to waive the principle of specialty. Categorical refusal. Nassim’s detention continues.

Last April, he requested the services of the criminal lawyer, Olivier Martins. The latter immediately appealed the decision of the Arlon chamber of council, reports La Dernière Heure. The action had the desired effect: Nassim is released. The lawyer cites the unreasonable delay, given the inaction of the investigating judge, Devaux. According to him, the judge could have asked the French judicial authorities to extend the arrest warrant at the time when his client refused to waive the principle of specialty. Especially since it was only valid for 14 acts for which Nassim had already pleaded guilty.