Belgium. Known politician found dead in a canal. A few hours … – Gazeta.pl

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60 year-old Robert “Steve” Stevaert was a protégé of Willy Claes, a long-Belgian minister who served for a year as Secretary General of NATO, but in 1995 he was forced to resign because of a corruption scandal.

Prosecutor of Hasselt confirmed that the body Stevaerta fished out of the canal near his home on Thursday evening. Earlier in the vicinity of his bike was found.

– We assume that he committed suicide – said a spokesman for the prosecutor’s office.

raped a woman he met during a TV debate?

Stevaert, former owner of the bar, he was also mayor of Hasselt, and until 2009 was the governor of the province of Limburg. After the introduction of free public transport in the 90s earned the nickname “Spectacular Steve.”

In 2011, retired from politics. According to Belgian media, Stevaert not admitted to the rape of a woman in 2010, whom he met during a televised debate. The woman filed charges against a politician two years ago. The police investigation in this case was kept secret, but the prosecutor’s office announced Thursday that Stevaertowi judge ordered to appear before the court in connection with allegations of rape and assault.

Elio Di Rupo, a longtime leader of the francophone Socialist Party ( PS), which until last year was the prime minister of Belgium, said that Stevaerta death is a shock and called on the authorities to clarify the matter.

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