On June 7, 2022, the mother of one of the victims discovered that ex-director PC (50) of the BuSO Ravelijn in Bruges exchanged sexually suggestive messages with her son. He visited the boy with disabilities several times and during those meetings he allegedly touched the victim inappropriately. According to the boy, there was also oral and anal sex. Due to the media attention the case received, four more victims went to the police. They too were said to have been hugged, kissed and caressed by the director. One of the boys would have been only 14 years old at the time of the facts.
The police immediately carried out a search and arrested the ex-director. During his interrogation, he confirmed certain contacts with several students and a former student, but he denied certain sexual contacts. But sexually explicit messages with students and ex-students were found on his mobile phone, as well as images of sexual abuse of minors. The victims all had a mental disability or an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
“Seriously in error”
PC spent more than two weeks in prison and was then under electronic monitoring for another two months. He resigned as director, but is now a teacher in adult education. The Public Prosecution Service demanded an effective prison sentence of 7 years and a referral to the sentencing court.
