Public prosecutor’s office opens investigation into real estate transaction suspended ships Knokke-Heist
As authorized alderman, former first alderman of Knokke-Heist Kris Demeyere (Municipal Interests) had negotiated on behalf of the municipality about the purchase of a farm and associated land on the Heistlaan.
Water buffer basin
Since the summer of 2021, the municipality has been negotiating with the then owner to purchase it with the aim of setting up a water buffer basin for agriculture. At the beginning of May 2022, the Knokke alderman’s college gave the green light for that real estate transaction.
When the municipality only bought the land, Demeyere bought the farm and part of the arable land in its own name. As a result, he acquired a total area of 3,760 square meters.
Inactive
Demeyere already relinquished his powers in urban planning in December last year. The ships had previously been discredited for a conflict of interest. According to Audit Vlaanderen, there was a conflict of interest when the alderman had to judge a real estate project of the Hemelaer family. That family previously also invested in the car garage of the ships.
Kris Demeyere has always denied the conflict of interest. In May, he stepped aside in consultation with the mayor. Now the public prosecutor is collecting evidence about that real estate transaction.