Alderman Abdellah Achaoui did not unjustifiably use the bank card of the Union Saint-Gilloise Youth School when he was its president and managing director. Conclusion of the judicial investigation opened in 2020 followinga file from the Médor newspaper implicating the socialist representative. The Brussels public prosecutor’s office issued an indictment dismissing the case, pronounced by the Chamber of the Council at the beginning of April. For Abdellah Achaoui and his lawyer Denis Bosquet, satisfied with the outcome of the procedure, it was therefore “false accusations“.
Support from the club and the mayor
Médor points out the management of Abdellah Achaoui and his bank withdrawals. “The boss would take with him the blue box of entries paid by the parents“, “Achaoui withdrew some 6,500 euros on November 8, 2019. He used the ASBL Ecole des Jeunes card for this.” “Friday November 29, Achaoui […] left with a little more than 2,500 euros in cash […]. No justification accompanies these withdrawals.“
If he will admit to being paid for his function at the Union (1700 euros per month in expenses), Abdellah Achaoui will deny any embezzlement and will talk about cash funds to be built up during first team matches. Both the Union Saint-Gilloise and Mayor Catherine Moureaux (PS) will give him their support. “It turns out, following the various interviews, that the accusations reported in these media were unfounded and incorrect.“, explains the club. “He had me assured of his total good faith and his total honesty in his commitment to the association“, Catherine Moureaux reacted at the time.
Nevertheless, Abdellah Achaoui decides to leave his position at the Youth School. The Brussels public prosecutor’s office opens an investigation. In May 2021, investigators go to the alderman’s office “my request“, will explain Abdellah Achaoui. A search also took place within the Youth School. “The investigators were able to access all the necessary information and can count on the full collaboration of all the members of the Matriculation 10 components., then specifies the club.
He was never charged
Today, the file is closed. “Mr. Achaoui, alderman in Molenbeek, was the subject of a slanderous press campaign in January 2020“, denounces his lawyer Maître Denis Bosquet. “He was president of the Union Saint-Gilloise Youth School. Some political representatives joined this campaign. This case was the subject of an investigation by a Brussels investigating magistrate, an investigation in which he was never charged.“
“The order of the Chamber of Council of April 4, 2024 confirmed the unfoundedness of these false accusations and dismissed the case, declaring that there was no need to prosecute. My client and I are delighted that this court was able to deliver justice.“
The council of the Molenbeek alderman, also a candidate for the Chamber during the elections on June 9, adds: “Mr. Achaoui reserves the right to proceed against his accusers with slander and defamation.“Accusers”who criticized me, discredited me, who defamed me without restraint“, reacts Abdellah Achaoui to RTBF. “It concerns the newspaper in question but also the agents who tried, because I am an agent, to bring me down. I find this deplorable. Others had the necessary distance from this matter and remained neutral, judging me innocent in relation to the serious facts conveyed against me. I am considering the matter with my lawyer and I will not stop there.“
