Madame Jardemalie had fears. What she learns reinforces her idea that she is indeed being followed and spied on by one or more individuals. By whom? For what ?
“By getting its hands on the information held by the Belgian authorities, Kazakhstan is showing that it can do what it wants”
Constantly on guard
Botgoz Jardemalie worked in Kazakhstan, before defending numerous political opponents in exile and becoming an activist herself. A fight which inevitably earned him the enmity of the Kazakh authorities.
Ms. Jardemalie worked for a bank linked to the Kazakh authorities, a position she left once links with the regime were established by the lawyer and activist. It was, for her, the beginning of a legal saga that The Free reported on several occasions and notably in January 2024.
Already at the time, the lawyer declared that she was harassed and spied on by individuals who would not have hesitated to rent the apartment opposite her home to spy on her day and night. Madame Jardemalie also explained that she had been the victim of computer hacking.
When her sports teacher announced to her, in July 2017, that individuals were interested in her by asking many questions about her, Botgoz Jardemalie – who is constantly on guard – began to monitor even more any vehicle she considers him suspicious in an attempt to collect evidence of what he is saying.
Thus, on multiple occasions, she will have the feeling of being followed by several vehicles. She will take a photo of some of the cars whose drivers are, in her eyes, suspicious. Then will file a complaint for harassment.
The federal prosecutor’s office will take charge of the case. An investigation will be opened and in November 2017, an individual will be arrested. The latter’s hearing and, above all, the elements which will be found in his possession will support the thesis supported by Botgoz Jardemalie.
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More than 181,000 photos found
The arrested individual will explain to investigators that he has worked for two years as a surveillance agent for a firm specializing in investigations and research.
A former soldier, the man has been tasked for “four or five months” with a mission consisting of monitoring a lawyer of Kazakh origin. He speaks of her as his target (or “target” in French) whom he does not know personally. The only information: his initials, namely BJ.
The agent explained that he worked with at least five other people, without ever disclosing anything about them.
When the investigators explain to him that the activities described are illegal and that, in order to be legally active as a private detective on Belgian soil, it is necessary to obtain accreditation provided by the Ministry of the Interior, the individual says he is not aware of these obligations.
The man will be released, but his phone will be seized. More than 181,000 photos concerning Botgoz Jardemalie will be found. Other elements will demonstrate that the latter was actually monitored from a home located opposite her home in Brussels.
It is for this story that Botgoz Jardemalie was, this Tuesday morning, before the 43rd chamber of the Brussels court of first instance.
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The federal prosecutor underlined the seriousness of the situation, in the case of a so-called “professional”, insisting on the fact that the offense period is undoubtedly longer than that brought to light during the investigations. He requested the maximum sentence of two years in prison, pointing to an aggravating circumstance, namely the fact that Madame Jardemalie was monitored and harassed because of her political opinions.
Judgment on January 30, 2025.
