The Deinze police have opened an investigation against star chef Floris Van Der Veken, after one of his employees filed a complaint for aggression. That writes The Latest News. The Deinze police confirm the investigation, but cannot say anything further about the content of the case.
According to Helena De Maertelaere, the 23-year-old woman who filed the complaint and had been working in the hall of the star restaurant Hof van Cleve for three years, Van Der Veken allegedly pushed her over by force at a party in mid-November. She reportedly fell on the back of her head and suffered a graze wound to the head, as well as some bruises on her arms. After the fall, she also suffered from nausea and headaches.
The woman has been declared unfit for work since November 18. “Instead of saying sorry, Floris said that I am worthless,” says De Maertelaere The Latest News. In her own words, she had an “on-off relationship” with Van Der Veken for two years. “We were never officially a couple, because it had to remain a secret from the outside world,” it says. At the party in question, the chef allegedly showed up with another woman, after which an incident broke out between the two.
“False complaint”
Van Der Veken, who took over the Hof van Cleve from top chef Peter Goossens in January this year, confirms that he was questioned by the police, but denies that he used violence. In The Latest News he is talking about a false complaint that, according to him, originated in a discussion about severance pay.
“I was attacked by Helena, who was drunk at the time,” said Van Der Veken. “She would like me to fire her and pay a severance package. When I refused, she and her father threatened to go to the press.”
