He former European justice commissionerDidier Reyndershas been questioned in the framework of an investigation by alleged money laundering through the National Lottery.
Reynders, Commissioner until last weekend, former Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs (2011-2019), previously Minister of Finance (1999-2011) – in charge of the National Lottery from 2007 to 2011 – is considered suspected of having participated in this crime even during his years as federal minister (when he was no longer responsible for the National Lottery) and until less than a year ago, according to reports Le Soir and Follow The Money.
The investigation It started last year 2023 when the Belgian prosecutor’s office set off the alarms. An investigation carried out by the Ecofin section of the Belgian judicial police.
The former Commissioner of Justice, Didier Reynders, during his last public act on April 5
On the morning of December 3, Reynders’ residences were searched: his habitual residence in Uccle and his country house in Vissoul, between Liège and Namur. According to Le Soir and Follow The Money The Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the existence of the file, which is kept secret for the sake of the investigation.
The authorities point out that the former commissioner was dedicated to buying “electronic tickets”, some bonuses from 1 to 100 euros which are transferable to the personal account of the National Lottery. The investigation has revealed that part of the purchases were made with cash and that the winnings were deposited into Reynders’ lottery account to finally be transferred to the checking account.
Although he has the presumption of innocence, after searching his homes, Reynders was interrogated. Having carried out the alleged crime during his European and federal mandate deprives of any possible deprivation of liberty during instruction. For this reason, after his statement was taken, he left the police station. If the Prosecutor’s Office considers it appropriate to open a file against him, he must request the Belgian Parliament to lift his ‘immunity’.
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