Sint-Truiden (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A new judicial investigation began on Friday, January 24, 2025, in Sint-Truiden’s government to examine fiscal inconsistencies while managing city funds. The investigation showed evidence of mismanagement along with related concerns for confidential financial problems.
The authorities initiated a new judicial inquiry on Friday, January 24, 2025, that examined administrative financial improprieties occurring in Sint-Truiden, Belgium. The ongoing investigation turned up worrying signs of administrative missteps while raising the alarm about additional concealed problems.
Mayor Ingrid Kempeneers stated,
“We cannot promise that no more skeletons will fall out of the closet,”
indicating that the extent of the financial discrepancies may be deeper than initially suspected. These financial missteps present a major setback for the city, which faces ongoing budgetary problems.
The investigation targets public fund mishandling, including administrative corruption. Research indicates that key departments face problems with resource distribution and inadequate financial oversight. The judiciary-led investigation will track unusual financial transactions to determine whose actions led to potential misbehaviour.
“This is a serious blow to us, especially now that we are trying to rebuild the city,”
Says Mayor Ludwig Vandenhove (Vooruit).
“I am glad that the public prosecutor’s office is now also going to deal with it. I hope that the public prosecutor’s office will also deal with all those other files from the past. I am convinced that these files not only contain political mistakes but that criminal cases can also come to light. This must be cleaned up to the bone.”
The overall situation has put Sint-Truiden at high risk for failing to support its essential infrastructure construction work and service funding. Presently, the city council faces strong pressure to enforce stronger financial governance while maintaining transparent operational activity. The city government under Mayor Kempeneers will introduce multiple strategies to rebuild public faith and normalise financial stability according to assurances he made about the developing scandal.
“I cannot promise the residents of Sint-Truiden that no more scandals will fall out of the sky,”
Vandenhove regrets.
“We know there are quite a few skeletons in the closet, but there will undoubtedly be more that fall out. It will have to stop at some point, but every time another one comes to light, it is a hard blow to our financial situation. With 75,000 euros less, it will be a matter of weighing up where we have to save.”
“As a new board, I believe we deserve a chance to get rid of that supervision. This would also be a great relief for the staff, because they are still a bit scared. I have already sent a letter requesting a meeting. I am waiting for that meeting with the governor,”
Vandenhove concludes.
What is the background of Sint-Truiden’s financial challenges?
Sint-Truiden confronts ongoing financial problems mainly because it failed to plan budgets properly and allocate available resources correctly. The European Commission released a report in 2023 that revealed deficient local governance conditions in Belgium because oversight systems lacked integrity, along with public officials’ uncontrollable asset declaration procedures. Many local governments remain exposed to corruption and deficiency as a result of fundamental structural problems.
The current investigation integrates European-wide initiatives to stop financial crimes while increasing public official transparency throughout public administration systems. The government has launched programs that teach anti-money laundry techniques to both judges and prosecutors so they can better enforce laws and make investigative progress. The FATF (Financial Action Task Force) declared parallel financial investigations an essential method to locate criminal activities while realising money transfers.
