Belgian Court Orders Moroccan National to Repay €61,000 for Social Housing Fraud

This conviction follows the investigation into foreign assets conducted by Woonhaven. The investigation reveals that the accused owns real estate in Morocco. A violation of Belgian law. The Moroccan is ordered to repay 61,000 euros in social benefits to the Antwerp social housing company Woonhaven Antwerpen, reports Bladna.nl.

According to the alderman for housing and chairman of Woonhaven Fons Duchateau (N-VA), this is the third time the Antwerp Court of Appeal has ruled in favor of Woonhaven in a similar procedure. This time it was a man of Moroccan origin who has unjustly benefited from social benefits since 2010.

The Flemish Minister of Housing, Matthias Diependaele, welcomed this new legal victory for Woonhaven Antwerpen. "This judgment shows that the asset investigation is considered as proof," he added. He intends to extend asset investigations throughout Flanders. "We are planning a budget of 5 million euros for this," he said.

"Anyone who owns property abroad is not entitled to social housing. We need all social housing and this housing must be allocated to those who are truly in need. This spring, we plan to have a framework agreement with Flanders that all social tenants can subscribe to. This way we can better structure and accelerate the fight against malicious social tenants," the Flemish minister committed.