Prosecution 'should have arrested gangster'

14 September 2006

BRUSSELS — The Antwerp public prosecution office should have arrested Kosovo gangster Victor Hoxha when it became clear he had re-entered Belgium, Justice Minister Laurette Onkelinx has said.

Onkelinx said the instructions were clear: Hoxha and the prosecution office new that the gangster’s unfinished jail term would have to be served at night if he returned to Belgium.

The Justice Ministry had informed the prosecution office by letter that Hoxha was deported by plane to Kosovo at the end of last year, following his parole from a jail sentence.

But when allegedly Hoxha returned to Antwerp during the summer months, the Antwerp public prosecution office requested further instructions.

The prosecution office wanted a guarantee that Hoxha would be jailed, thinking it otherwise pointless to launch a large-scale and risky operation to arrest him.

But the prosecution office was sent a theoretical answer, which stated that Hoxha would immediately come into consideration for early release after his arrest.

The Antwerp prosecution discussed the matter with the Justice Ministry again on Wednesday, but in her subsequent announcement, Onkelinx said the public prosecution office should have arrested Hoxha.

But it remains unclear whether Hoxha actually re-entered Belgium. Both of his lawyers denied the allegations on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Patrick Dewael said he was “baffled” by the Hoxha incident.

Dewael said police efforts to guarantee public safety were being negated by letting a gangster make fun of the Justice Minister’s decisions.

The Liberal VLD minister said utmost caution should be involved when convicted criminals are deported to their land of origin.

He promised to discuss the situation with Minister Onkelinx about how future problems can be avoided.

Subject: Belgian news

Prosecution ‘should have arrested gangster’