The National Police have apprehended a Belgian man in the south of Tenerife who was has an active European Arrest Warrant (EAW) against him, with a firm sentence of two years in prison, issued by the courts in Belgium for sexual assault on a minor.
According to the official police press release, the Belgian authorities have been looking for the man since an incident that took place in February 2020 when he worked at a children’s playground. According to the court report, he took advantage of the absence of a young girl’s mother, sexually abusing her by touching her inappropriately.
Upon learning that the Belgian authorities suspected that the fugitive might be in the Canary Islands, the police opened an investigation. A surveillance operation was established until the suspect was located and officers then proceeded to identify him and arrest him.
He is now in custody in Tenerife awaiting deportation back to Belgium to face the charges. His arrest highlights the effectiveness of international cooperation in apprehending individuals sought for serious crimes, showing that there is nowhere to hide.
