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Report brands Belgian child sex probe incompetent
April 14, 1997
Web posted at: 12:56 p.m. EDT (1656 GMT)BRUSSELS, Belgium (CNN) -- Police investigating Belgium's scandal of kidnapped, abused and murdered children were branded as arrogant and autocratic in leaked extracts from a special report on Monday. Convicted child rapist Marc Dutroux is facing murder charges arising from the investigation.
The scandal came to light in mid-August when Dutroux was arrested; he eventually led police to the bodies of four girls in two separate locations. As investigations got under way, it emerged that local police had been watching Dutroux for years, but had failed to curtail his activities or inform officials investigating the disappearances that he was a key suspect with a history.
Other leaked extracts of the report said investigators were slow to act, ignored key evidence, were dismissive towards parents and used their insufficient resources badly. The report will be handed to party leaders on Tuesday and debated on Thursday and Friday. The report by a parliamentary commission will not be the last word. It has been given until September 30 to follow up its theory that Dutroux may have had high level protection.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Belgian police dig for possible child victims - August 23, 1996
- Missing kids: Belgian parents take action - August 21, 1996
- Belgian police target possible pedophile network - August 20, 1996
- Belgian police widen probe into child sex scandal - August 19, 1996
Related sites:
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- Child Quest International
- Missing Kids International
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