Heba Press: Abdel Salam Belgarbi, Mohamed Zariouh
Muhammad J. is on trial. And his brother, Othman, before the Belgian court in Antwerp for cocaine trafficking and possession of firearms. Mohammed J. He is known for his involvement in a daring escape from Bruges prison in 2009 using a helicopter. He participated in this operation with the notorious criminal Ashraf Sakaki, famous for his repeated escapes from prisons.
The Belgian prosecutor’s office has requested four years in prison for Mohamed J. and seven years for his brother Othman. The current case dates back to 2021, when authorities uncovered a cocaine trafficking network after dismantling an encrypted communications system. Muhammad J. admitted. During the trial, he allegedly sold cocaine for a short period of time to repay a €15,000 debt to a criminal gang. His brother, Othman, considered the leader of the network, denied the accusations against him, while his lawyer said the evidence was not linked to his client.
The case is reminiscent of Achraf Sakaki’s attempted escape from Salé prison in Morocco, which sparked widespread controversy in both Morocco and Belgium. The court is expected to deliver its final decision on Muhammad J. and his brother Othman on October 18, which will determine the fate of the defendants in one of Belgium’s most complex criminal cases.
