Money Laundering Investigation Targets Ex-EU Justice Chief's Ally

The investigation has brought to the forefront serious allegations concerning Didier Reynders, who served as the EU justice commissioner until December 2024. Just days after completing his term, Reynders' residence was raided by Belgian authorities amid suspicions of money laundering, as reported by media outlets such as Follow the Money and Le Soir.

The scrutiny comes as questions arise about the source of over 1 million euros deposited into Reynders' bank account. Allegations claim that he engaged in money laundering by purchasing large quantities of lottery tickets and subsequently moving any winnings to his personal account. Reynders is now tasked with demonstrating that the cash funds used for these deposits have legitimate origins.

According to sources involved in the investigation, Reynders previously informed investigators and ING Bank in 2018 that his funds derived from art and antique sales. This has not alleviated suspicions, prompting the latest actions by the Belgian authorities.

On June 5, investigators intensified their probe by searching the residence of Jean-Claude Fontinoy in Mozet, located near Namur, Belgium. Fontinoy has been a close associate of Reynders for approximately two decades. While numerous allegations have previously been levied against Fontinoy, including a 2019 complaint alleging that he laundered bribes through phoney art transactions, that case was dismissed. The recent searches indicate that authorities are reopening investigations into these claims.

In addition to Fontinoy’s home, an antiques shop situated in Brussels’ Sablon district was also searched in June, as confirmed by the Brussels prosecutors’ office. The art dealer associated with the shop denied any dealings with Reynders and expressed concerns over biased media portrayals.

Investigators are currently examining transactions tied to Reynders that date back to 2008, revealing a pattern of cash deposits amounting to at least 800,000 euros into his ING account. From 2018 onward, Reynders commenced substantial gambling activities via e-tickets from the National Lottery, placing bets totalling over 200,000 euros. A gas station employee previously recounted to Le Soir that Reynders regularly brought in thousands of euros in cash to purchase lottery tickets and would later deposit any winnings back into his account.

However, behaviour consistent with Reynders’ gambling activity has been questioned by the National Lottery, which noted inconsistencies typically associated with compulsive gambling behaviour, particularly his method of reinvesting new cash rather than relying solely on winnings.

As the investigation is spearheaded by Judge Olivier Leroux, authorities continue to seek clarity on the legitimacy of the cash handled by Reynders and the interconnectedness with alleged art deals. A person familiar with the case stated that Reynders and his wife have not been questioned since December 3, raising questions about the ongoing nature of the investigation.