BRUSSELS, Belgium — In a landmark judicial decision, the Antwerp Court of Appeal has established a groundbreaking legal precedent by convicting a client of rape for deceiving a sex worker with fraudulent proof of payment. This ruling represents a significant evolution in Belgium’s legal interpretation of consent within the regulated sex industry.
The court determined that the defendant, a Bulgarian national in his 30s, systematically deceived the same victim on six separate occasions by fabricating electronic payment confirmations. After the sex worker requested advance compensation, the man manipulated his banking application to display either unsigned transfer confirmations or screenshots of previously completed transactions.
Belgian criminal law explicitly defines rape as ‘sexual penetration with a person who has not consented,’ further specifying that consent is invalidated ‘if the sexual act results from a ruse or another punishable act.’ The court concluded that the deliberate deception regarding payment constituted such a ruse, thereby nullifying any presumption of consent.
While Belgian courts have previously adjudicated cases involving non-payment for sexual services, this marks the first judicial determination that financial deception transforms the nature of the encounter into criminal rape. The defendant attributed his actions to cocaine influence, though the court maintained criminal responsibility.
The sentencing included a three-year suspended prison term coupled with mandatory psychotherapy and regular drug testing to monitor rehabilitation. Antwerp, as a major port city with regulated sex work, has been actively developing protective measures for workers in this sector, predominantly women who remain vulnerable to exploitation.