More corruption at Brussels vehicle inspection centres?

Belgian judicial authorities have raided several vehicle inspection centres as well as the homes of some 30 employees as part of a corruption investigation centring on vehicle inspection services in the Brussels boroughs of Anderlecht and Vorst.

The employees are suspected of accepting money in return for providing a green 'clear' card. Several Walloon newspapers report that some of the workers nearly managed to double their earnings as a result. An examining magistrate questioned thirty individuals.

A spokeswoman for the Brussels public prosecutor's office told newsmen: "The scope is enormous and possibly it's not limited to the centres raided today. Such practices can have serious ramifications for safety on the roads."

160 officers took part in the house searches.

It is not the first time that the Anderlecht vehicle inspection is the centre of corruption allegations. As recently as 2003 27 people were found guilty of corruption between 1990 and 2000 and were jailed.
 

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