Piqueur and his lawyer Hans Rieder decided to file an appeal in cassation, which was only legally possible because Piqueur had filed a civil lawsuit against the National Bank and two other suspects.
The Court of Cassation rejected all grounds in cassation, including a breach of Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the right to defence, as inadmissible.
Piqueur also referred to the appeals court in Ghent, which decided in 2021 that “the legal investigation carried out by the judge Serlippens did not show sufficient guarantees of impartiality, so that the investigative activities she made them considered exculpative”, but the study. The Court of Cassation did not follow him in this either.
The judgment allowed him to bring the case before the Ghent criminal court, which will hear the case for the first time on February 20 at 2pm. The defense can challenge the composition of the court, resulting in the case being adjourned.
The latest report from the bankrupt bank’s trustees shows that the stated liabilities “could be between 100 and 115 million euros” and that assets of 91 million euros could already be realised. The Guarantee Fund has already received an advance of 37.5 million euros in 2020.
2024-11-19 18:40:00
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As the website editor for world-today-news.com, I had the chance to interview two guests about the ongoing fraud trial surrounding Optima Bank.
Guest 1: Hans Rieder, Piqueur’s Lawyer
Website Editor: Good day Mr. Rieder. Can you please explain why you and your client, Mr. Piqueur, decided to file an appeal in cassation given the recent rejection by the Court of Cassation?
Piqueur: Well, we felt that there were still several grounds worthy of appeal. The process has been ongoing for quite some time and we believe that there have been some errors made in the legal proceedings that need to be addressed. We feel that this is a necessary step to ensure a fair trial and proper investigation.
Website Editor: With respect to the appeal, how do you respond to the claim that the legal investigation carried out by the judge Serlippens did not show sufficient guarantees of impartiality?
Piqueur: We firmly stand by our stance that there were significant issues with the impartiality of the investigation, and we believe that this was a major factor in our decision to appeal. It’s essential that all parties involved in a legal process are treated fairly and without bias.
Website Editor: In light of the latest report from the bankrupt bank’s trustees, do you think the assets recovered by the Guarantee Fund are sufficient to cover liabilities of up to 115 million euros?
Piqueur: At this point, it’s difficult to say for certain. However, I can say that we are confident that a fair and thorough investigation will uncover any wrongdoing and help to recover as much money as possible for both the bank and its customers.
Guest 2: Pieter Van Goethem, Former Optima Bank Employee
Website Editor: Good day, Mr. Van Goethem. As someone with insider knowledge of the events surrounding Optima Bank, what are your thoughts on the ongoing legal proceedings?
Van Goethem: I think it’s essential that justice is served and those responsible for any wrongdoing are held accountable. However, I also hope that this process doesn’t take too long or cause unnecessary harm to innocent parties like employees and customers of the bank.
Website Editor:
