Somers puts Staden under stricter supervision after audit to Mayor Vanderjeugd: “investigation into suspicious real estate deals”

De Krant van West-Vlaanderen reported on Friday. According to the newspaper, Vanderjeugd may have been guilty of a conflict of interest.

The Krant van West-Vlaanderen brought the news last year that Vanderjeugd had concluded two “suspicious real estate transactions” in his own municipality. According to the newspaper, he had used the foreknowledge he had as mayor. The public prosecutor’s office of West Flanders and Audit Flanders then started an investigation. The latter’s investigation has now been completed. According to KW, the document was forwarded to all members of the city council last week and will be discussed at a secret session on October 27.

Vanderjeugd: “legally and deontologically acted correctly”

Vanderjeugd continues to maintain that he has always acted correctly legally and deontologically. “However, our editors have heard a different reading of the document from various reliable sources. In both suspicious real estate files, the mayor was said to have been in a state of conflict of interest,” KW said. Following the audit, Flemish minister Bart Somers places the municipality under stricter supervision. He will instruct Governor Carl Decaluwé to invite Vanderjeugd for an interview.