Hoxha denies returning to Belgium this summer

AMSTERDAM – Gangster Victor Hoxha has accused Flemish politicians of using his case to create a political scandal in the run-up to the national elections.

Hoxha would like it to be known he is now in Kosovo and didn’t visit Belgium this summer, reports Belgian newspaper De Standaard.

The gangster repeated in the French language newspaper La Libre Belgique that he had not returned to Belgium this summer, and that his name is being used to create a political scandal in the run-up to the national elections.

He added that “Mrs Onkelinx does not deserve to be accused because of me” and finds it unfortunate that she should have to go through all of this.

“Obviously some Flemish politicians are only too happy to use my name, maybe because they think I frighten many people,” he said.

The convicted gangster was granted parole at the end of last year on the condition that he left the country and never returned. Otherwise, he would have to serve out the rest of his sentence.

However, Hoxha was allegedly sighted in Antwerp recently, but justice authorities failed to arrest him, sparking heated criticism.

The VLD is now demanding that no serious offenders be granted early release until new parole courts are established in January.

But Socialist PS Justice Minister Laurette Onkelinx refused to bow to the VLD ultimatum.

Liberal VLD Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt met with Onkelinx at the end of last week in a continuing effort to resolve the conflict

Subject: Belgian news