BRUSSELS – Two teenagers from Laeken have been jailed for extortion, it was reported on Monday.

Brussels prosecutor Jacques Pignolet put Achmed D and Amine B behind bars for extorting funds from fellow pupils at the Marcel Tricot school, La Libre Belgique reported.

One pupil said he had been subjected to their racketeering for months.

In one case, EUR 35 had been forced out of one of their victims.

Their crime was considered to be worse because of the young age of their victims.

The prosecutor in the case said he wanted to send a warning to the pupils of the Laeken school where crime has risen in recent months.

He dismissed efforts by Achmed and Amine to play down their actions as just a “game”.

[Copyright Expatica 2005]

Subject: Belgian news