Brussels Police Officers Face Charges for Leaking Murder Suspect’s Photo to Local ’Sheriffs’

Troubles for Philippe N., his son Dorian N., active police officers, and David F., a former police officer. They are being prosecuted for forgery and use of forgeries, violation of professional secrecy and investigation, as well as criminal association. These three former members of the Silva proximity brigade in Forest appeared Tuesday before the special affairs chamber of the Brussels correctional court. Alleged facts: establishing a false police report that did not mention blows received by one of the suspects in the murder of Soufiane Benali on July 5, 2021, on Alfred Orban Street in Forest; sending a photo of the alleged shooter at the time, Mohamed-Amine Dardour, to neighborhood delinquents known as the "sheriffs".

They are accused of having incited them to chase the suspect all the way to Marseille, even though one of them was under electronic surveillance. Last week, the magistrate requested between 15 and 20 months in prison for them. Their lawyers, in turn, criticize the public prosecutor for "a lack of clarity regarding the charges against the three former members of Silva and therefore the impossibility for their client to understand and defend themselves properly," reports La Dernière Heure. They lean towards obscuri libelli, or inadmissibility of prosecution. They also plead for acquittal on all charges.

"I am not this corrupt cop they want to make me out to be. [...] What interest would I have had in letting small-time neighborhood thugs, whom I don’t know, go hunt other small-time thugs? Just for the glory?" Philippe N. questions during his final statement. He does acknowledge having made an error in judgment - by sending Dardour’s BNG photo to the sheriffs - which he takes responsibility for and deeply regrets.

The verdict is expected on June 13.