Belgian Court Extends Detention of Suspects in 13-Year-Old’s 42-Day Kidnapping Case

These two brothers had appeared for the first time before the council chamber a month ago. The facts they are accused of occurred on the night of April 20 to 21. Four to five masked and armed individuals, dressed in Dutch police uniforms, had kidnapped the 13-year-old son of Erhan T. from their home in Genk, reports Belga.

The teenager was held hostage for 42 days in three different places, a house in the Meulenberg district of Houthalen, and at the parental home of the Bouloudo family in Maaseik. Subsequently, a ransom of 330,000 euros was paid, and the boy was released shortly after midnight on Pentecost Monday.

The Moroccan Khalid Bouloudo and his brother-in-law Lahoussine El Haski are the alleged leaders of the gang.