Belgian Councilor Released on Bail Amid Corruption Investigation

It is the Indictment Chamber of Brussels that ordered the conditional release of Hicham Chakir (PS), municipal councilor in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. According to Me Karim Sedad, his lawyer, the local elected official was released on September 26 by the Indictment Chamber, but the public prosecutor’s office appealed, reports bx1.

The Indictment Chamber then confirmed the order of the Indictment Chamber. "I can tell you that my client has always cooperated with the investigation and that many inaccuracies have emerged in recent days," said Me Sedad, without going into details on the nature of the suspicions against Hicham Chakir.

But he wanted to correct the information according to which his client would have been arrested at Brussels Airport according to Bruzz. For the lawyer, the facts were taken out of context. "He was on vacation abroad when he was contacted by the investigators. He clearly indicated that he was ready to cooperate." Once back in Belgium, "he informed the investigators of his presence in the country, after which he was deprived of his liberty. But to be clear, he was not handcuffed at the airport," corrected Me Sedad.