Belgian man 'facing death threats' at home

The defence lawyers in the extradition proceedings of a Belgian man wanted in his home country, where he was jailed for 10 years for his involvement in a hold-up, yesterday told a court that sending the man home would be unjust as he was facing death threats.

Lawyers José Herrera and Edward Zammit Lewis told Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna that sending Serge Geryl back to Belgium would be oppressive.

"Our client has been at large for three years and, in the circumstances, his extradition would be oppressive as his life was under threat by the gang leader who was jailed when he (Mr Geryl) exposed him to police," the lawyers said.

They added that they had evidence of this imminent danger faced by Mr Geryl and produced the translation of a document sent to them by the Police Commission of Bruges, Belgium.

In the document, which was read out in court, the commissioner said that Mr Geryl's detention in the Belgium prison would "surely put his life in danger as the leader of the gang had verbally expressed his intention during a court hearing".

The magistrate also heard Mr Geryl's common-law wife, Kristine Vande Voorde, explain that she had been with Mr Geryl for eight years. She recalled how he had been threatened by the gang leader in the Belgium court where comments such as "dead man walking" had been directed at him.

Ms Vande Voorde explained how, when Mr Geryl called her from inside the Belgian prison, she would hear people threatening him in the background. She had also received personal threats at home and moved twice to protect herself and her child.

The threats, she said, were made because "he simply collaborated with the police".

She explained that she knew the police commissioner of Bruges because Mr Geryl had given him information about a gang. She had informed the commissioner about the threats and he had provided her with police protection for four weeks.

She added that she still kept in touch with the commissioner and confirmed that he had sent the declaration, read out in court, to Mr Geryl's defence team.

Ms Vande Voorde added that Mr Geryl had asked to be detained in another jail while in Belgium but all requests had been turned down.

She said that Mr Geryl was still receiving threats and she had inside information that the gang leader was a dangerous man.

Police Superintendent Peter Paul Zammit and Senior Counsel to the Republic Donatella Frendo Dimech prosecuted.