Brussels, 28 October, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The i-Police leak scandal has intensified political pressure on Belgian Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden after two spokespeople were formally placed under suspicion over alleged breaches of professional secrecy involving a failed police technology programme. The minister has rejected suggestions of wrongdoing by her office and offered to provide further explanations to Parliament.
According to reports published by Le Soir and De Standaard on 27 October, a Brussels investigating judge placed Verlinden’s Dutch-speaking spokesperson and a spokesperson for the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office under formal suspicion.
The allegations concern the possible exchange of confidential information about a judicial investigation into Belgium’s abandoned police digitalisation project.
Brussels i-Police Investigation Raises Serious Legal Concerns
Investigators are examining whether confidential judicial information was improperly communicated between the prosecutor’s office and the ministerial spokesperson.
Belgian broadcaster BRUZZ reported that the prosecutor’s spokesperson allegedly passed information about the investigation to Verlinden’s representative.
Whether any confidential information reached the minister herself remains unclear.
The prosecutor’s spokesperson has reportedly been suspended since June 2026.
Both individuals remain entitled to the presumption of innocence, and the allegations have not resulted in criminal convictions.
Legal experts say the investigation raises important questions about the confidentiality of judicial proceedings and the separation between political authorities and prosecutors.
Justice Minister Verlinden Strongly Rejects Allegations
On 27 October, Verlinden publicly rejected suggestions that her ministerial office had breached the confidentiality of the investigation.
In a statement reported by BRUZZ on 28 October, the minister said she had nothing to hide and denied any conflict of interest or improper personal benefit.
She also criticised the disclosure of information from ongoing investigations, arguing that such leaks could damage those involved.
Verlinden confirmed that she had offered to provide explanations to the competent authorities, although that offer had not yet been taken up.
She also expressed willingness to provide further information to the Belgian Parliament.
The minister maintained that she had no reason, based on the information available to her, to question the legality of her spokesperson’s conduct.
Failed €299 Million Police Project Faces Renewed Scrutiny
The controversy stems from the i-Police programme, which was designed to modernise Belgium’s federal and local police information systems.
The project aimed to combine information from approximately 80 applications and databases into a more accessible digital platform.
In 2021, the Belgian government awarded French technology company Sopra Steria a framework contract associated with a planned investment of €299 million.
However, the programme experienced substantial delays and failed to deliver the expected results.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin terminated the contract in December 2025.
By that stage, approximately €75.8 million had been paid to the contractor.
Sopra Steria disputes responsibility for the project’s failure, while the Belgian authorities are pursuing financial claims relating to the abandoned programme.
Belgian Parliament Faces Growing Demands for Answers
The i-Police leak scandal has prompted opposition politicians to demand greater transparency and parliamentary oversight.
Groen parliamentary leader Matti Vandemaele questioned the handling of the programme, while Arthur Orlians of Anders called for the latest developments to be examined by the Chamber’s Justice Committee.
Vlaams Belang has also renewed its demand for a parliamentary inquiry.
The controversy extends beyond the financial consequences of the failed technology project.
It raises broader questions about the protection of confidential information, judicial independence and accountability within Belgium’s federal government.
What Happens Next in the Brussels Investigation?
Judicial authorities must establish whether confidential information was unlawfully requested or disclosed.
According to legal analysis reported by BRUZZ, further judicial proceedings will determine whether the evidence supports prosecution.
Parliamentary scrutiny may also continue following Verlinden’s offer to provide additional explanations.
No final judicial finding of wrongdoing has been announced against the two spokespeople.
The investigation remains ongoing, with the legal and political consequences yet to be determined.
