Belgian Fugitive Arrested: ’Most Wanted’ Suspect Caught in Brussels for Rape and Kidnapping

This arrest was made possible thanks to cooperation between the FAST (Federal Computer Crime Unit) and the Bruxelles Midi police zone, as well as the rapid dissemination of a wanted notice and the public appeal through the Belgium’s Most Wanted list.

A targeted and in-depth investigation was conducted with the support of the public prosecutor’s office and the investigating judge in charge of the case. The authorities were able to locate the individual in an apartment in Saint-Gilles. The federal police welcomed this rapid arrest, which once again proves, it is said, the added value of the rapid dissemination of a wanted notice and the public appeal through the Belgium’s Most Wanted list. This search operation was therefore successful and prevented Mohamed Ben Brahim from fleeing again.

Sentenced in 2010 to 10 years in prison

Justice had sentenced Mohamed Ben Brahim, 51 years old at the time, and his accomplice, Ali Bounou, 21 years old, to 10 years in prison.

The facts date back to June of the same year, when two of the victims were in transit in Brussels, waiting for a train to Turin, reports La Dernière heure. They were approached by Ali Bounou, who offered them to have a drink. After convincing the young women to accompany him to Rue des Goujons in Anderlecht, Mohamed Ben Brahim, residing at that address, welcomed them. The victims tried to escape, but Ali Bounou threatened them with a knife. They were then raped for several hours.

The two young women managed to escape and took refuge with the concierge, who alerted the police. When the officers arrived, the two defendants tried to flee, but only Ali Bounou managed to escape. Mohamed Ben Brahim, for his part, has always denied the charges against him, but his DNA was taken from the body of one of the complainants.

Two weeks before these events, the two men had kidnapped a young woman who had started prostituting herself in the Midi station area. Ali Bounou had held and beaten her while Mohamed Ben Brahim raped her. She had also managed to escape, but Mohamed Ben Brahim’s DNA had been identified on her.