Twenty-something robs elderly man with 40 cm knife: “I needed money”

The victim cycled to the ING office in his municipality on 14 February 2021 around 10.30 am. The then 84-year-old man wanted to withdraw 130 euros from an ATM. Suddenly, someone else stepped into the building. When the victim had just inserted his card into the slot, the defendant came and stood right next to him. The robber took out a 40-centimeter knife and made a stabbing movement towards the elderly man’s abdomen. The victim fell out of shock. The defendant ran off with his wallet.

Six days later, a Peugeot 307 was subjected to a traffic control by the police of the Blankenberge/Zuienkerke zone. The stolen wallet was found in the center console. Some of the victim’s documents were still there, but about 300 euros in cash had disappeared. Mohamed T. was a passenger in the Peugeot that day. He appeared to be wearing the same clothes as the robber on the camera images of the bank.

Compensation

During an initial interrogation, the twenty-something claimed that he had simply found the wallet somewhere on the floor. He nevertheless confessed to the investigating judge. The Brussels resident even admitted that he had prepared the robbery. So he had brought the kitchen knife from home. The defendant was also on the lookout for a while at the bank branch. “I just needed money, he explained.” Mohamed T. is also suspected in Brussels of forgery and fraud.

The defense successfully asked for a suspended sentence, linked to conditions. In the meantime, the defendant is said to have recovered, including by resuming his studies. He has to pay compensation of almost 3,000 euros to the civil party.