Freddy Horion will receive approximately 770,000 euros [1] in coercive fines following his transfer to a closed forensic care center in Rekem.
The payment stems from a legal battle over Horion's placement, highlighting the tension between judicial mandates and the administrative delays of forensic care transitions.
Horion, 78 [3], is recognized as the longest-serving prisoner in Belgium, having spent nearly 47 years [4] behind bars. On Monday, he left the prison in Hasselt to be admitted to the forensic facility in Rekem [2].
The financial sum accumulated because Horion delayed his admission to the forensic center, which violated court orders [2]. These delays triggered coercive penalties, which amounted to 1,000 euros per day [2].
Because the state failed to ensure the transfer occurred within the court-mandated timeframe, the government is now obligated to pay these penalties to the prisoner. A spokesperson said that Horion will handle the funds in a sensible manner [1].
The news has drawn public scrutiny regarding the use of taxpayer money to compensate a convicted criminal. One reader said via an HLN blog that they would prefer the 770,000 euros to go to the Children's Cancer Fund, rather than to Horion's account [2].
“Freddy Horion will receive approximately 770,000 euros in coercive fines.”
This case underscores the legal mechanism of 'dwangsommen' or coercive fines in the Belgian justice system, where the state is financially penalized for failing to execute court orders. The high payout to a high-profile prisoner illustrates the strict liability of government agencies to adhere to judicial timelines, regardless of the recipient's criminal history.
