Creator of lost poles gets four months with a postponement for countless emails to IKWV

Dominiek V. (68) has been bombarding IKWV (Intermunicipal Coastal Rescue Service West Flanders) with countless emails since 2013, because he can’t bear that his orientation poles are no longer being used.

The defendant initially sent a few e-mails, but after a while it became several e-mails a day. In his e-mails, the resident of Oudenburg also insinuated that fraud and undeclared work were taking place at IKWV. V. also allegedly threatened to send bloodhounds and a battery of lawyers after them. “The organization was terrorized, because the employees were really awake.” IKWV claimed 2,600 euros in damages, but was eventually awarded 101 euros.

The reasons for stopping the stray poles were not discussed during the trial. The civil party noted that the decision actually lies with the coastal municipalities. “One can be angry, but at a certain moment one has to accept a decision,” said prosecutor Lode Vandaele. Moreover, according to the Public Prosecution Service, the emails are no longer about the issue itself, but mainly express feelings of revenge.

Dominiek V. currently has to answer for the emails he sent from 2013 to 2021. In several police interrogations, he promised to stop, but the defendant would still send such emails. “If it doesn’t stop, it could end very badly,” the prosecutor said, referring to the maximum sentence of two years in prison. This time, six months in prison was demanded, possibly linked to conditions.

“I am not allowed to ask anything from my client other than the acquittal,” the defense pleaded, however. According to V., who was not present himself, he was the victim of political machinations. The defendant also believes that his idea was stolen. Subordinately, a suspended sentence was successfully proposed.