Bar owners arrested as part of rape and drug investigation
Authorities in Kortrijk have arrested five people - including two bar owners - in connection with the drugging and sexual assault of at least 41 women in the city's nightlife district. The victims reported being unknowingly drugged with ketamine between 2021 and 2023, often waking up in hotels or at home with no memory of the previous night.
Prosecutors say the suspects - who include bartenders, bar owners and bouncers - acted as a loosely coordinated group. They allegedly exchanged information on how to spike drinks and what substances to use. Victims consistently described drinks that tasted of amaretto. Toxicology tests confirmed the presence of ketamine in several cases.
Well-known figures
Two of the arrested suspects were well-known figures in the Kortrijk bar scene. One had recently closed his bar, citing personal reasons. Locals say the incidents have devastated the area's nightlife, with most bars now closed and regulars staying away.
"We had heard rumours, but the reality is worse than expected," said Dieter De Clerq, a nearby bar owner whose staff also reported being targeted.
"There is no evidence of guilt yet. Let the investigation take its course"
Defence lawyers deny the existence of a coordinated network and insist on the presumption of innocence. The names of some suspects have been circulated on social media by far-right figures, raising legal concerns about a "trial by media". One lawyer said: "There is no evidence of guilt yet. Let the investigation take its course."
The mayor of Kortrijk, Ruth Vandenberghe, condemned the crimes as "repulsive" and promised increased security measures for nightlife venues. Lawyers for the victims welcomed the progress in the case and called for full confessions to bring closure.
"The scale of the case is disturbing but not surprising," said one representative. "Now it's time for justice."
#FlandersNewsService | Burgemeester Reynaertstraat in Kortrijk © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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