BRUSSELS – Belgian police have arrested a 60 year-old man and charged him with illegally sharing music files over the internet, the Belgian press reported on Thursday.

The man was caught with 137,000 of the popular MP3 music files on his computer, said reports citing Brussels prosecutors.

Prosecutors also say he ran a website where music fans could download artwork from popular CD and album covers.

The soon-to-be pensioner was arrested following a complaint from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents major multinational record companies including Sony Music and EMI.

The haul of music files was the biggest Belgium’s Computer Crime Unit has landed since it was set up ten years ago.

The man has been released from custody for the time being. He risks a fine of up to EUR 100,000 if found guilty of music piracy.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Belgian news