The sectoral federation Advocaat.be calls on the High Council of Justice (CSJ) to open an investigation following the expulsion of two lawyers from a courtroom, ordered last week at the trial of 32 drug traffickers before the Bruges Criminal Court, relocated to Justitia, in Haren. A limit has been crossed, the bar has the right to know the opinion of the CSJ on this subject. The public too, moreover”, underlines the president of Advocaat.be, Peter Callens, in a press release published Wednesday.
Last Thursday, defense lawyers left the hearing with a bang in the morning. The latter were protesting against judge Frederik Gheeraert, president of the trial, who had refused them the use of the tables and sockets in the courtroom and ignored their request to involve the president of the bar. When it resumed in the afternoon, two lawyers were expelled from the courtroom by the police, on the orders of the president, after trying to speak on the subject.
“It is important to know the reasons which led the court to issue this order, as well as to know whether the CSJ considers that its reasons were proportionate to this measure and to the manner in which it was carried out”, indicates the press release from Advocaat.be.
Mr. Callens had already expressed his deep concern about the decision of Judge Frederik Gheeraert in a message published on LinkedIn a few days ago.
This vast trial focuses on an international network of drug traffickers whose alleged leading figures are Flor Bressers (37 years old) and the Brazilian Sergio Roberto de Carvalho (65 years old).
