Belgium is taking steps to help investigators
BELGA
This Monday at the end of the morning, the Belgian federal prosecutor reacted to the words of the assistant lawyer of the coroner of New South Wales, affirming that steps will be immediately.
A first hearing was held this Monday morning, at the court in Byron Bay in Australia, as part of the investigation into the disappearance of an 18-year-old Belgian, Théo Hayez, in this region, in May 2019. Kirsten Edwards, assistant lawyer for New South Wales coroner Teresa O’Sullivan, lamented that Belgian police were not empowered to share certain geolocation data of the victim with Australian investigators.
Kirsten Edwards said she deeply regretted that, although the Belgian police were able to use certain geolocation data (via “geofencing”), they were not authorized to share the results with the coroner’s inquest, as part of the of a disappearance case, for international legal reasons (mutual legal assistance treaty – MLAT).
The Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office reacted quickly, saying “there is no information which cannot be quickly communicated to Australian investigators, on the basis of an official request”.
Federal prosecution spokesman Eric Van Duyse added that “pro-active steps are being taken by the federal prosecution today to help Australian investigators unravel a possible problem” which the prosecution was not aware of. aware.