The Namur public prosecutor’s office did not provide further information on the details which pushed the Namuroise to leave her home. Adult and completely free of her movements at the time of the search, Juliette Goormans had no obligation to return to Belgium. This excellent news made it possible to put an end to a two-year investigation carried out by the local and federal police of Namur, the missing persons unit as well as Child Focus.
The other info: an extraordinary fuel oil fraud
On June 18, 2024, searches were carried out as part of an investigation into fuel oil fraud in Belgium, including Namur. Five people were arrested. The police also seized a mobile installation aimed at decolorizing fuel oil and 2000 kg of products allowing decolorization in a warehouse in Namur. “The damage caused by this fraud is estimated in millions of euros,” indicated the Namur public prosecutor’s office.
This wave of seizures and arrests then led to the sealing of the Pessleux pumps found in Fosses, Bois-de-Villers and Temploux in October.
In December, the federal judicial police communicated more about the underlying facts of this investigation and, above all, of this vast fraud. The operators of the gas pumps, Frédéric and Christophe Pessleux, were effectively placed under arrest warrant before being released.
The operation was simple: the bleached heating oil was delivered to various service stations before being resold at the price of running oil. This allowed fraudsters to avoid a differentiated excise tax compared to diesel.
In a press release, the Tongeren police added that the 8 days of specialized action specifically targeted the fraudulent activities of the organization in the Namur region and therefore the Pessleux petrol stations. The police added that the investigation made it possible to list the flow of at least 30 million liters of discolored fuel oil. As for the seizure of the mobile bleaching installation, it was discovered, according to our information, in Temploux, where the Pessleux family operates a service station.
Image (1): Maxime Prévot, first Walloon
The Namurois, head of the list for the Engagés in the Chamber, became the first Walloon in terms of preference votes in the elections of June 9. It is a reflection of the victory of his party, both at the federal and regional level. “We are clearly making the greatest progress of all the parties, making the Engagés the moral winner of this election“, indicated the head of the list a few minutes after the final verdict.
Image (2): Around sixty vehicles leaving the Sambre
As part of an investigation into a disappearance, the federal judicial police extracted around sixty vehicles from the Sambre between Auvelais and Jemeppe from May to June. Unfortunately, the wrecks that came out of the waterway did not help the investigation. Positive point all the same: there is no longer any risk of boatmen hitting a vehicle in the Sambre when passing through.
Image (3): Philippeville faces Couvin during the Fêtes de la Musique
The Music Festivals continue to offer exceptional posters. At the end of June, Couvin and Philippeville are head-on opposites with, on the same evening, on one side Alice on the Roof and regional artists and on the other the singer Cali (our photo), who sets fire to the stronghold.
The quotes
“I want to give my little girl back her story.”
The statement to the court of a mother whose daughter was kidnapped by Julienne Mpemba, found guilty of adoption fraud, kidnapping, hostage taking by the Namur criminal court.
“The Couvinois have expressed a need but the priority of the BEP, for the moment, is the construction of a crematorium in Éghezée, because a real lack has been identified there. Once this project is realized, we will think about such an investment in Couvin But it will certainly not be before 2030, or even rather 2035.
Renaud Degueldre, director of the Economic Office of the Province of Namur
By the numbers
20
The number of millions of euros in subsidies that were collected to revitalize the center of Tamines in Sambreville by the former socialist absolute majority. It remains to be seen whether the new Engagés-MR majority will decide to continue or amend the project initiated by the PS.
60
The number of cars that were extracted from the Sambre between Auvelais and Jemeppe-sur-Sambre by the federal judicial police. This operation aimed to find a vehicle linked to a disappearance file. But these wrecks did not resolve this cold case.
8000
The number of revelers expected in Frasnes for the return of the Beach Evening, from June 28 to 30. This weekend of festivities in a setting of sand and huts is reorganized, after a long interruption. The last one was from 2018.
In brief
closure of the center tavern in Han
At the beginning of June, a gastronomic institution closed its doors in Han (Rochefort): the Taverne du Center by Jean-Pol Henin. The oldest restaurant on rue des Grottes carries with it a century of history and has been transformed into a patisserie.
Our elected representatives in the Chamber and in the Region
The federal and regional elections delivered their verdict on the evening of June 13. The seven elected to the Chamber: Maxime Prévot, Anne Pirson and Stéphane Lasseaux (Engaged), Charlotte Deborsu and David Clarinval (MR), Pierre-Yves Dermagne (PS) and Farah Jacquet (PTB).
The eleven elected to the Region: Vincent Maillen, Stéphanie Thoron, Richard Fourneaux, Valérie Warzée (MR), Benoît Dispa, Geneviève Lazaron, Christophe Bastin (Engaged), Stéphane Hazée (Ecolo), Patricia Van Walle (PTB), Éliane Tillieux, Eddy Fontaine (PS).
Travelers
In Eghezée and Gembloux, travelers settled on a football pitch and in a field. This led to the anger of politicians but also of poor farmers.
Jumatt bankrupt
At the end of June, the Jumatt construction company in Andenne was declared bankrupt. Around forty workers found themselves on the floor.
Floreffe Abbey sold
On sale for 8 years, the abbey has finally found a buyer: the Bouvier family. Although she did not indicate the amount of the purchase, she indicated that she planned to carry out numerous projects to renovate the building.
A cooperative to save the Château de Balâtre
Residents of Balâtre in Jemeppe-sur-Sambre formed a cooperative to save the castle from decay. Events were organized during the month of June with the aim of introducing people to this incredible building. When finances allow, the members of the cooperative will offer to buy the building from the owner, Joseph Geuens.
Harassment in Fosses-la-Ville: president and CEO of the CPAS acquitted
Social workers from the Fosses-la-Ville CPAS had filed a complaint against the general director and the former president of the CPAS for moral harassment. After long debates, the Namur criminal court did not uphold the charges. The judge considered that everyone bears some responsibility in this story.
Notice launched… but poorly caught in Couvin
At the end of June, Couvin approved the contract for the construction of the Maison de la Forêt, at Adugeoir de Petigny. The file, estimated at 5.036 million, will be abandoned once the offers are received at the end of the year. The best price offered will be 1.2 million higher than the estimate.
Domaine des Lacs
At the end of June, the non-profit association managing the Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure announced a plan to revive this major tourist tool for Wallonia and the region. We must now talk about the Domaine des Lacs de l’Eau d’Heure.
Cute woods in Berzée
This is the fourth public inquiry for the rehabilitation of the Bois Mignon quarry, in Berzée (Walcourt). A private person would like to carry out a real estate project there, on embankments, but many local residents are opposed to it. Their fight will be victorious at the end of the year, with a refusal of the permit and abandonment on the part of the promoter. Enough to open up the prospects for activities more focused on the biodiversity of the old quarry.
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