A Flemish man who planned to abuse a child has been apprehended in the Netherlands. The man was unmasked by a Dutch journalist working undercover for a television programme. He describes the man "an intelligent monster", comparing him to the Belgian paedophile Marc Dutroux.

The man was willing to pay 500 euros for a child, preferably a ten-year-old girl, according to a Flemish newspaper. It quotes the journalist who broke the story - Alberto Stegeman - as saying that the man wanted to abuse and to torture the girl "if necessary to death".

Mr Stegeman first "met" the paedophile on the internet. He then set up a sting to unmask the man. The resulting documentary was shown on Dutch television last night.

"This man is not a crazy fool. He is a smart, intelligent monster. I would compare him to Marc Dutroux," says Mr Stegeman. The paedophile is now in a Dutch prison. It is not clear if or when he may be extradited to Belgium.

The man also told Mr Stegeman that he had abused his own daughters when they were young. Officials are now looking into the case - if it is found that an offence has indeed been committed, the Belgian authorities will seek extradition once the Dutch investigation is completed. 

Flandersnews.be adds that the paedophile was convicted of possession of child pornography in 2004. At the time, he was ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment, but it's unclear whether or not this actually happened. Public prosecutors in Belgium have begun an investigation.

Source: Flandersnews.be

(mw)