There will be no special investigation by the Supreme Court of Justice into the Sanda Dia case. The HRJ announced this in a press release on Thursday evening.
The judgment in the case surrounding the death of Sanda Dia, the 20-year-old student at KU Leuven who died in 2018 after an extreme baptism at student club Reuzegom, has caused quite a stir in recent weeks. Quite a few people think that the eighteen Reuzegommers who organized the conscious baptism got off easily with community service and a fine. The Parliamentary Committee on Justice had urged the Supreme Court of Justice to conduct an investigation into the feeling of ‘class justice’ that arose following the judgment of the Antwerp Court of Appeal in the case.
Basic principle of the rule of law
The HRJ announced on Thursday evening that “the United Advisory and Inquiry Committee today decided not to launch a special investigation into this matter”. “The HRJ is not allowed to comment in any way on the content of a court decision. This is a basic principle of the rule of law,” it reads.
LOOK. The Reuzegommers received these punishments:
“A special investigation focuses on serious and specific dysfunctions and aims to formulate proposals and recommendations for the optimal functioning of the justice system. Within this role, the HRJ must also respect the independence of the judiciary as provided for in Article 151 of the Constitution.”
The Supreme Court states that it is “obviously not blind to the emotions that the judgment has aroused in society and considers it positive that the public debate is being conducted.”
44 members
“Within its mission to restore public confidence in the judiciary, the HRJ is already working today on the various themes that dominate this debate.” The Supreme Court, which is composed of 44 members – magistrates and non-magistrates – will “continue to work for this in the future and will also draw inspiration from the elements that emerge from this debate”.
Finally, HRJ reiterates its call for serenity out of respect for Sanda Dia’s family.
Community service
On May 26, the Antwerp Court of Appeal acquitted the eighteen defendants for administering harmful substances and guilty negligence and found them guilty of accidental death, degrading treatment and violations of the animal welfare law. They were sentenced to community service of 200 to 300 hours and a fine of 400 euros and must also pay damages.
EXPLAINED. What happened to Sanda Dia?
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