What happened the past few days?
Radio maker Sven Pichal (44), best known as the presenter of the consumer program From inspector on Radio 2, submitted his resignation to the VRT last weekend. He did this “for personal reasons” and with immediate effect, the public broadcaster confirms.
The reason for this would be that Pichal is currently in prison in Turnhout as part of a larger ongoing investigation. VRT NWS reports that he is suspected of possessing and distributing images of child abuse. It would concern serious facts. Other people are said to have been arrested in the case, although it is not known how many.
According to the news service of the public broadcaster, Pichal was arrested at home on Thursday evening. After an interrogation on Friday, an investigating judge decided to arrest him and had the presenter transferred to the prison in Turnhout, where he would currently be held in isolation.
On Saturday late afternoon, Pichal informed the public broadcaster of his resignation through his lawyer Walter Damen, confirms VRT spokesman Bob Vermeir. “We immediately acted on this.”
A house search took place in the VRT building on Monday afternoon. Pichal had for his Radio 2 program From inspector an office at the editorial office in Brussels. The search began around 1:40 p.m. and was completed around 3:20 p.m. The VRT does not want to say anything about the activities of the investigators.
How does Sven Pichal himself react?
Sven Pichal’s lawyer, Walter Damen, said in a statement this weekend that Pichal “has decided to resign from the VRT for personal reasons”. “Sven will seek professional guidance and withdraw from public life. Sven will not comment further and would like to thank everyone who has supported him.”
He refrains from further explanations for the time being.
How does the VRT react?
At VRT they confirm that the collaboration has suddenly stopped. “The news surprised us,” says VRT spokesperson Bob Vermeir on Monday. “At the moment, we at the VRT are mainly concerned with internal communication and with the care of colleagues, many of whom are in shock.”
Radio 2 also reacts to the dismissal of their presenter: “We understand that this news is a shock to you, it is also to us. In the meantime, we will now let the court do its job.” There are also many questions about what to do next From inspector, which would start a new, tenth season in September. “We will probably communicate about this on Wednesday,” says Vermeir. He emphasizes that the VRT wants to keep attention for consumers in its programs and says it is looking at how they can replace Pichal.
On Radio 1, Kobe Ilsen started his program after the 12 o’clock news #weetikveel saying the news “effectively comes in as a shock”. His program revolved around the theme of ‘carnival’ on Monday. “We have to go on, we go #weetikveel to make. On a theme that is not obvious at the moment, but we just keep going, despite everything.”
How is that investigation going?
There is still much uncertainty about the true circumstances of the facts and the investigation The morning couldn’t get all the information confirmed yet. The Antwerp public prosecutor’s office has chosen not to communicate about the investigation for the time being.
In any case, Pichal should appear before the Antwerp council chamber on Wednesday morning. He then decides whether or not he should stay in prison for a month longer. Pichal could appeal against that decision.
Child Focus will also be a civil party in the file. “As Child Focus, we are authorized to institute civil proceedings in all files involving images of child sexual abuse,” said Kris Luyckx, Child Focus’ lawyer. For the time being, this only concerns the file concerning Sven Pichal, but according to Luyckx it cannot be ruled out that Child Focus will still be a civil party in other files.
Who is Sven Pichal?
After his studies, Sven Pichal started working at VRT in 2000, first as an editor and reporter, later as a presenter. He participated in numerous (radio) programs, such as The new world, Camping Casablanca, The news in Volt. That’s how he made it Volt from undercoverreportage street men.
Listeners know him from the Radio 1 program he made together with colleague Annemie Peeters, Peeters & Pichal. They presented this together from 2007 to 2012. In 2014 he switched to Radio 2 where he succeeded Hein Decaluwé as From inspectorthe popular consumer program.
Pichal and his partner have been a couple for about twenty years and have been foster parents of twins for several years.
