The Belgian investigation is focusing on fiscal fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking. According to accusations made at the Belgian federal court in Liège on Tuesday, the company's fraud is estimated to exceed €65 million.
The Belgian court highlights the company's alleged “generalised social dumping” (the practice of employers to use cheaper labour than is usually available at their site of production or sale) and cited shocking figures: for just the period between 2014 and 2017, the company has €45 million in unpaid salaries and a €20 million deficit for social security.
As reported by Belgian newspapers Le Soir and L'Echo, the examining magistrate in Belgium had taken the decision to confiscate 350 of Jost group’s trucks last December. This decision was overturned following appeals by the company’s lawyers.
The Belgian authorities have had a file on Jost for four years. To gather evidence, an undercover police officer infiltrated the company, which employs 1,650 people. According to the police officer, he had been required to spend up 18 consecutive hours behind the wheel of his truck and spent nearly two months sleeping in his vehicle. The Belgian justice system cited a benchmark of roughly 950 victims of human trafficking.
The work contract of the undercover officer was signed in Slovakia, despite the fact that he was meant to be driving in the Benelux countries, France, and Italy. For his work, the driver earnt a maximum of €650 per month.
The majority of vehicles were registered in Romania and Slovakia, though they only returned there once a year for technical inspection.
In light of the considerable accusations, the group published a press release. In the press release, Jost stressed that the company denies these accusations and would like to defend itself “peacefully”. It also refers to the presumption of innocence.
The group, with headquarters based in the north of Luxembourg, regroups approximately twenty companies established in a dozen countries.
In spring 2017, several representatives of the transport company, including its director, Roland Jost, had been placed in pre-trial custody. At the time, the premises in Weiswampach had also been searched.
FOTOGALERIE vum Domingos Oliveira.
Luxembourg-based logistics company: Belgian prosecutors ordered seizure of 300 Jost lorries
