Belgian Court Convicts 9 in Moroccan Work Visa Fraud Scheme

This network of fake contracts in Bressoux allowed people of Moroccan origin in an irregular situation to obtain a residence permit and unemployment benefits in Belgium. But it did not engage in any criminal activity, the Liège Criminal Court stressed. In total, 215 people were able to settle in Belgium thanks to this "fraudulent" system and unduly benefit from 5 million euros in unemployment benefits between 2011 and 2018, reports Sud Info.

Hassan B. and Ahmed B. are considered the two leaders of the operations. The prosecution requested prison sentences of 6 and 5 years against them. The judge ultimately sentenced Hassan B. to 3 years of suspended prison and a fine of 4,000 euros. Ahmed B., on the other hand, received 15 months of suspended prison and a fine of 3,200 euros.

The seven other defendants were also sentenced to various sentences. Norddedine, absent from the hearing, received an 18-month prison sentence and a fine of 3,600 euros. Mohammadi, Abdelkader, Brahim, Zakariae and Ahmed were sentenced to prison terms, suspended or not, of 4 to 8 months and fines of 1,600 to 4,800 euros. Abdellah, for his part, was sentenced to 130 hours of community service and a suspended fine of 2,400 euros.

The nine defendants were ordered to repay nearly one million euros in civil damages. They have 30 days to appeal this judgment. This case came to light in 2017, after ONEM and ONSS inspectors noticed "anomalies" in many unemployment benefit applications.