When crimes are no longer under investigation
- Kris Vansanten
- Dec 21, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 13
Isabel Albers writes in De Tijd: 'We should not accept that our police and judicial systems are so dysfunctional. The judicial system is the cornerstone of a democracy. When Lady Justice turns a blind eye and crimes are not even investigated, the sense of fairness and justice is long lost.

By extension, this applies to all businesses and citizens who rely on the fair administration of justice in this country. They have the right to expect a properly functioning legal framework in a country with a sky-high tax burden, but this is lacking. The problem is so complex and has dragged on for so long that the prevailing attitude is one of shrugging.
It is a relief that the media finally seem to realise that things cannot go on like this. Earlier this year, the Brussels public prosecutor's office also decided to close its investigation into the Nyrstar case after three years of inactivity. Fortunately, the public prosecutor in Antwerp took a different view and opened an investigation, which is now well under way. Like Euroclear, Nyrstar is alleged to have committed a €2 billion fraud. In the meantime, valuable time has been lost and it will probably be several years before the case goes to trial. And even then, such cases all too often get bogged down in lengthy legal proceedings. Decisions on the merits of the case often take years, as every effort is made to delay the legal process. This creates a sense of impunity, as is the case with lesser crimes. Meanwhile, the new Nyrstar, acquired by Trafigura, continues business as usual, much to the frustration of the victims in this case. The result is clear: the slowness of the justice system is eroding the confidence of retail investors. Even institutional investors are turning their backs on the Brussels Stock Exchange because the judicial system is failing to act quickly and decisively. This is disastrous for our economy. For if the shareholders of the companies that form the basis of our prosperity can no longer count on the protection of the judicial system, then the system itself is at risk. After all, justice is 'the keystone of democracy', as Isabel Albers puts it.
So it is high time to act. In this light, the hearing that Michael Freilich is organising in the Parliament's Finance Committee on 14 January deserves our full attention. I dare to hope that this can be a first step in tackling a sputtering legal system in this country where efficiency, effectiveness and legal certainty are paramount.
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