The criminal court of Antwerp sentenced Patrick R. (49) from Ravels on Friday to three years in prison, of which one year is effective, and a fine of 200,000 euros with postponement. A few years ago, he introduced a natural “miracle drug” to combat red mite in poultry, but mixed it with the toxic substance fipronil. The consequences were disastrous: hundreds of poultry farms in Belgium and the Netherlands were blocked in the summer of 2017 after fipronil was found in chicken eggs. The victims were awarded more than 20 million euros in damages.
–
Patrick R.’s partner, who worked with him in the company Agro Remijsen, was given eighteen months in prison with a postponement and a fine of 20,000 euros with a postponement. The court declared 215,000 euros forfeit against the duo. Agro Remijsen was sentenced in absentia to a fine of 20,000 euros with postponement. An illegal asset of 100,000 euros was forfeited.
One of the service companies that used the product on customers to clean the sheds was sentenced to a fine of 20,000 euros with a postponement. The manager was given eighteen months in prison with a postponement and a fine of 20,000 euros with a postponement. 50,000 euros was confiscated against them.
The two other service companies and their business managers were acquitted. The court found it insufficiently demonstrated that they were aware of the presence of fipronil in the pesticide they had purchased.
The court was rather mild in the imposed prison sentences and fines, but the defendants must pay more than 22.8 million euros in damages to, among others, the affected poultry companies, the food agency FAVV and the waste company OVAM.
–
