Antwerp lawyer cleared of money laundering charges after 6-year probe

Antwerp lawyer Tanja Smit will not face prosecution for money laundering, a Belgian court decided after a six-year investigation. Smit was briefly detained in 2020. She was the lawyer for a suspect in a drug ring allegedly laundering money through brasseries in Antwerp.

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From the beginning, my client strongly disputed the allegations. Even before her arrest, objective documents showed the accusations were unfounded.

Her lawyer, Kris Luyckx, expressed satisfaction with the decision. "From the beginning, my client strongly disputed the allegations. Even before her arrest, objective documents showed the accusations were unfounded," Luyckx stated. Smit herself commented on the court's decision, noting that the "very serious accusations, which received considerable media attention at the time, ultimately have no basis for further prosecution."

According to Smit and her lawyer, the case has had a "heavy impact" on her professional and personal life. They emphasized that the case highlights a fundamental principle of the rule of law: a lawyer should never be identified with their client. "Defending individuals who are suspected or prosecuted is the essence of a lawyer's duty and should never in itself lead to suspicion," they argued.

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The very serious accusations, which received considerable media attention at the time, ultimately have no basis for further prosecution.

The case also raises broader questions about protecting the independence of the legal profession, respecting professional secrecy, and upholding the presumption of innocence, even when lawyers themselves are under investigation.

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Defending individuals who are suspected or prosecuted is the essence of a lawyer's duty and should never in itself lead to suspicion.