Herman Van Holsbeeck is released under conditions: “He has had terrible weeks” | Sport

The former manager of RSC Anderlecht was placed under an arrest warrant on January 19 by the Brussels investigating judge Michel Claise in the investigation into football agent Christophe Henrotay.

The federal prosecutor’s office and the Brussels investigating judge Michel Claise have been conducting a judicial investigation into money laundering and gang formation for some time. That investigation focuses, among other things, on the financial constructions surrounding the outgoing transfers of Alexander Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba to the English football club Newcastle, and the transfer of Youri Tielemans to AS Monaco. It is suspected that Van Holsbeeck in black, and without the knowledge of RSC Anderlecht, would have collected a fee for those transfers.

Van Holsbeeck was questioned about this in September 2019, and was then suspected of money laundering and forgery, but released under conditions. On January 18, Van Holsbeeck was arrested again, after which the investigating judge placed him under arrest warrant the next day. According to the federal prosecutor, this happened because new elements had surfaced in the file.

His lawyers had already asked the council chamber on January 24 to release the man, but the pre-trial detention of the former RSC Anderlecht manager was extended by one month. He appealed against this, so that he had to appear before the AI ​​on Monday. There, his lawyers again asked for his release. Successfully. Van Holsbeeck is released under conditions.

“We explained all the elements that were important to us to prove that it was no longer necessary for Mr. Van Holsbeeck to remain in prison,” says lawyer Daniël Spreutels. Today he will be allowed to sleep at home. That is good news. The past few weeks have been terrible for him. A 67-year-old man who is suddenly arrested, when you’ve always had a normal life… That’s terrible. I am very happy for him and his family. Of course, the suspicions are still there. The file remains the file. We will explain to the court what Mr. Van Holsbeeck disputes.”

Under what conditions Van Holsbeeck will be released, Spreutels added: “The normal conditions. He is not allowed to have contact with other (involved, ed.) persons. If he wants to go abroad, he will have to ask permission from the investigating judge.”