The public prosecutor’s office is demanding a one-year prison sentence for a refugee in Belgium who repeatedly punched his 2-year-old son. The child suffered fractures and may have permanent growth problems. The refugee’s lawyer asks that extenuating circumstances be taken into account and that only a suspended sentence be imposed, Belgian news portal Sceptr reports .
On August 19, Abdul S. went for a walk in Leuven with his sister-in-law and 2-year-old son. Abdul S. was drunk and suddenly started hitting the toddler with clenched fists. Shocked bystanders immediately called the police and began filming the incident. The man was arrested; the boy suffered injuries on his mouth and forehead.
A police investigation showed that this was not the first time the 2-year-old child had been beaten. According to authorities involved, there were clear indications that the father had beaten the child several times in the past. He is also suspected of beating his wife, but not enough evidence could be gathered for charges to be brought against him. Thus in court, he only had to answer for child abuse and weapons possession, as a knife had also been found on him.
The prosecutor’s office demanded an effective prison sentence of one year and a fine of €480.
“In a drunken state, the gentleman violated the physical and moral integrity of his son, and afterward, he says he does not remember anything about it,” said the attorney.
Abdul S.’s lawyer asked for extenuating circumstances to be taken into account.
“They arrived here as refugees, don’t speak the national language and ended up in a filthy room of the Appeltans family in Burgemeesterstraat. They live there with three adults and four children together. There is not even an entrance door,” he said. “We ask you to consider the circumstances and to impose a suspended sentence.”
According to its editorial mission statement, Sceptr is a news website dedicated to “hard issues” that are neglected in the mainstream media.
