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A Bruges engineer, serving a five-year prison sentence for alleged sexual abuse of his son in Meknes, is appealing to be repatriated to his home country, Belgium. Marc Moerman, 61, has already spent four years in prison after a custody battle in Belgium escalated across borders, culminating in his arrest in December 2021, he told Belgian media in a call from his prison cell.
The dispute began after Moerman and his ex-wife, a Moroccan national, divorced in Belgium following the birth of their son in 2017. While a Belgian court initially granted Moerman full custody, his ex-wife later moved to Morocco with the child. It was during this period that she filed a series of complaints against him, first in Belgium and later in Morocco, accusing him of sexually abusing their son. Moerman has consistently denied all allegations, describing them as part of a «bitter post-divorce conflict».
When he traveled to Morocco in December 2021, reportedly at her invitation to see their son, he was detained by Moroccan authorities. Although the initial rape charge was dismissed by a Moroccan judge, he was later sentenced to five years in prison for indecent assault.
His legal team and family have raised concerns over how the case was handled, citing «translation errors, procedural inconsistencies, and limited consular support».
«I’m innocent. I’ve been sitting here for four years doing nothing», he said. «I’m very disappointed in Belgium. They’re doing nothing for their citizens abroad», he added.
The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is monitoring the case and offering consular assistance, but Moerman’s family is urging more active involvement.
Following this publication, Marc Moerman’s family contacted our editorial team to exercise their right of reply:
1. Child Abduction by the Mother and Conviction in Belgium
Ms. Samira S., the child’s mother, left Belgium with the child in clear violation of a Belgian court ruling that granted sole custody to Marc Moerman. She was sentenced to one year in prison by Belgian authorities for child abduction. This conviction is explicitly stated in an official court judgment.
2. Unfounded Accusations and Post-Separation Conflict
The accusations against Marc Moerman were made after the mother fled to Morocco. These complaints had already been dismissed in Belgium. The case takes place in the context of a highly contentious custody battle, where the allegations appear to have been used to deprive the father of his visitation rights and parental authority.
3. Irregularities and Questionable Evidence in the Moroccan Trial
- The Moroccan ruling contains factual errors, including inaccuracies about the dates of the marriage and divorce.
- Some testimonies were obtained under pressure.
- An audio recording exists in which Samira explicitly threatens Marc with filing a complaint if she doesn’t receive the house, alimony, and sole custody of the child.
Taken together, these elements suggest a possible manipulation of the judicial process for personal retaliation. According to the family, Marc’s defense was never given a fair hearing in Morocco.
