Belgian Justice Minister Verlinden faces scrutiny over i-Police leaks

Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden is facing intense political pressure following the indictment of two spokespeople for violation of professional secrecy. The investigation involves the failed i-Police project, a digital reform initiative for police forces that was originally budgeted at 299 million euros.

Nick Gyselinck, the Dutch-speaking spokesperson for Minister Verlinden, and a spokesperson for the Brussels prosecutor's office have been charged. They are suspected of attempting to obtain confidential information regarding the investigation into the i-Police fiasco. The project, which was awarded to the French multinational Sopra Steria in 2021 while Verlinden was Minister of the Interior, resulted in approximately 75 million euros in losses before being halted.

The federal police are currently in a legal dispute with Sopra Steria, seeking 244 million euros in damages. Opposition parties are demanding that Minister Verlinden return to Parliament to provide explanations regarding potential conflicts of interest and the alleged leaks.