The case began in August 2023 when BD filed a complaint against actor RDB because the latter had sent him images of sexually assaulted children. A friend of BD found them in the Telegram application on his cell phone and encouraged him to file a complaint. RDB then told police that he and BD had watched images of child sexual abuse together, after which BD's computer equipment was also examined.
The prosecution requires 37 months of detention, including one year, against ex-presenter Sven Pichal, the defense pleads for a suspended sentence
The defendant's cell phone contained 14 photos and videos of babies and boys under the age of 12 being raped in a particularly violent manner by adult men. But things didn't stop there. The investigation revealed that BD had also sexually assaulted two minor actors, while he was a production assistant for a play in Antwerp. The boys were aged 14 and 16 at the time of the incident. The assaults were generally accompanied by drug and alcohol use.
At first instance, the Antwerp criminal court sentenced the 30-year-old in May to eight years in prison, a fine of 8,000 euros and five years of provision to the TAP for these facts. He had been imprisoned since then.
BD has never disputed his guilt in this matter. He appealed only against the sentence, and asked the court to grant him a probationary reprieve and to take into account mitigating circumstances. But given the seriousness of the facts, the court of appeal confirmed the prison sentence handed down at first instance. She pointed to “dangerously diminished moral integrity and an extremely perverse attitude.” “The defendant raped two minors after having gained their trust and that of their parents,” recalled the appeal court.
This further underlined the trauma suffered by young victims and the impact on society of such acts of violence. “The defendant must understand that sexual violence perpetrated against children is absolutely intolerable in our society. A suspended sentence is therefore not appropriate,” the court ruled. The psychological expertise also concluded that there was a particularly high risk of recidivism, the judgment continues.
However, he took into account the thirty-year-old's collaboration in the investigation to reduce his sentence by one year in prison. The man will, however, remain available to the courts for five years after serving his prison sentence. He is also prohibited for 20 years from exercising any profession which would bring him into contact with minors.
The man did not want to be taken from his cell to hear the court's decision. His immediate arrest was ordered.
