Скачать или смотреть BELGIUM: PANEL RELEASE REPORT INTO CASE OF CHILD KILLER DUTROUX

(17 Feb 1998) Eng/French/Nat

A parliamentary panel released a report on Tuesday which found Belgian law enforcement procedures so lax that it allowed criminals to operate unhindered.

It was the panel's second report looking into the highly publicised child-sex murders in Belgium and the Marc Dutroux child sex ring that came to light in 1996.

The report shot down the widespread notion that Dutroux and his cohorts were actively shielded by authorities.

But the main conclusion said the investigation into Dutroux's activities was so inept he and others enjoyed virtual "indirect protection."

After 17 months of public hearings, the Belgian parliamentary panel looking into the police handling of an infamous sex ring investigation released its findings.

Its conclusions into the case of paedophile and child killer Marc Dutroux and his accomplices were endorsed by 10 of the 14 panel members.

On his way into parliament, Premier Jean-Luc Dehaene said he would wait for to hear the report's conclusions before commenting.

UPSOUND: (French)
"No reaction, I will first listen to what the commission decided."
SUPER CAPTION: Jean-Luc Dehaene, Premier

What the commission decided was that Belgian police botched the investigation to such a degree that Dutroux was allowed to carry out his crimes in the face of missed opportunities and mistakes.

Dutroux, a convicted paedophile, is believed to have kidnapped and abused six young girls and murdered at least four of them by the time the case came to light in 1996.

Parents of some of his victims sat among parliamentarians eagerly awaiting the commission's findings.

The report came to a disturbing conclusion - it found that a number of errors by investigators meant Dutroux and his accomplices were essentially allowed free reign.

SOUNDBITE: (French)
"The parliamentary committee concludes that the police missed an opportunity to arrest Dutroux. The consequence of this attitude was that Dutroux and Weinstein (Bernard Weinstein, one of Dutroux's companions later found murdered) have got a perfect playing ground for their activities. Not only were they not hindered by the police, but even used as informers in some cases. So Dutroux and Weinstein could indirectly benefit of protection within the police force."
SUPER CAPTION: Nathalie de't Serclaes, Commission Member

Police missed a number of clues and tips which would have linked the suspected child killer to the kidnappings at a much earlier date.

In addition, police failed in a search of his home to discover two of the girls he was holding captive in his basement.

Having been left undiscovered during the police search they later died from starvation.

Parents of some of Dutroux's slain victims have already suffered immensely and the report's findings only intensified their anger.

Paul Marchal's daughter, Ann, was one of those murdered.

He charged that as shocking as the report is, even more damaging information was covered up surrounding the corruption that went on in the case.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"For me it's clear - and proof - at that moment, a few mistakes, a few dysfunctions, and they didn't mention it in the report. So I'm certainly not happy and for me it's proof that it's all politics, all for the commission."
SUPER CAPTION: Paul Marchal, father of murdered child Ann Marchal

Another father who lost his daughter, Jean-Denis LeJeune, was outraged that the authorities' incompetence led to the death of his child.

SOUNDBITE: (French)
SUPER CAPTION: Jean-Denis LeJeune, father of murdered child Julie LeJeune








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