Bone Tests Reveal Adult Age of Moroccan Teen Drug Suspect in Belgium

The Verviers division of the Liège public prosecutor’s office calls him Salaheddirine B. but the young Moroccan claims his name is Saïdi T. In March 2020, he arrived in Verviers. He was homeless. In June, he was arrested for drug trafficking. He is suspected of importing, exporting, transporting and selling cocaine, reports La Dernière Heure. In court, he says he is not an adult to avoid prison but the bone tests ("Geulich and Pyle") prove otherwise. He claims to be 16 years old.

The chamber of council confirms the authenticity of the tests. Saïdi is indicted and incarcerated in Lantin. His lawyer Christophe Van der Beesen contests the test results. "That bone tests can definitively establish an adult age seems to me to be questionable in itself. These tests are challenged for their lack of reliability. For example, the level of bone maturation also depends on ethnic origin, diet and endocrine factors." He appeals.

The indictment chamber calls on the services of an expert who confirms the lawyer’s position: the tests have a margin of error. On August 6, the young Moroccan is released from the IPPJ, a closed center for minors. But this release only lasted a few seconds. Investigators come across an ID card photo in the name of Salaheddine B., 22 years old. The person in the photo is Saïdi. He is indicted for "public wearing of a false name" and a new case of assault and battery. He goes back to prison.

Once again, his lawyer appeals. "My client says he invented a major identity to be able to travel. Then it’s just a reproduction of an ID card. With digital technology, you can forge anything, explains Mr. Beesen. It is not the official document. And even if it were, a fake ID card is easily bought. In fact, there has been no real investigation. Is he known to the Moroccan authorities? If it is Salaheddine B., aged 22, it is up to the investigators to prove it."

On Tuesday, the indictment chamber deliberated. Saïdi, the "minor" is acquitted. He will have to leave Lantin.