Michel Forgeot founded [[Achats Services Commerces]] (ASCO), a company involved in fraud and vehicle supply during the 1990s. ASCO, under Forgeot's founding, provided white Mercedes vans used by [[Michel Nihoul]] and [[Marc Dutroux]] for photographing schoolgirls and transporting victims in the child trafficking network. The company, registered in Charleroi, served as a front for Nihoul's schemes, with vans adapted for abductions, including the one used in [[Laetitia Delhez]]'s August 9, 1996, kidnapping, traced by partial license plate PBX 688. Forgeot's role as founder included overseeing early operations, with the company facilitating the use of vehicles for surveillance and transport. Police investigations post-Dutroux's August 1996 arrest linked ASCO vans to the kidnappings of Delhez and [[Sabine Dardenne]], leading to raids on ASCO premises uncovering financial records of payments to Dutroux. Forgeot was not directly charged in the Dutroux affair but was questioned during Nihoul's fraud probes, confirming the company's role in providing vehicles for non-business purposes.[^1] Forgeot's founding of ASCO positioned the company as a key logistical element in the network, with white vans loaned to Dutroux for tasks including circling schools to select victims. The vehicles were ordinary for business but equipped for kidnappings with tinted windows and sedatives. Forgeot's oversight included administrative aspects that masked the fraud, including inflated invoices for money laundering. His involvement came under scrutiny during the investigation, with ASCO's bankruptcy following arrests. Forgeot's testimony or statements, if any, were not central, but the company's vehicles were pivotal evidence in linking the business to the trafficking. The investigation revealed ASCO's role in funneling funds from child sales and pornography tapes through the company, with Forgeot as the founder bearing responsibility for its establishment.[^1] Forgeot's early role in ASCO included setting up the company as a cover for Nihoul's operations, with the fleet used for both legitimate purchases and illicit transport. The white van from Delhez's abduction was traced to ASCO, leading to the company's downfall. Forgeot's founding position made him a target in the probe, though his direct involvement in abductions remained unclear. The company's location in Charleroi placed it near Dutroux's residence, facilitating the arrangement. Forgeot's name surfaced in financial trails showing transfers to Dutroux's accounts for vehicle use beyond normal business.[^1] ### ASCO Founding and Operations Forgeot established ASCO in the early 1990s, with the company engaging in car sales and services that provided the white vans central to the Dutroux abductions. The vans were registered under ASCO, loaned to Dutroux for surveillance and kidnappings, including the May 26 abduction of Sabine Dardenne and the August 9 seizure of Laetitia Delhez. Police seized documents from ASCO showing vehicle assignments to Dutroux, confirming the logistical role. Forgeot's founding included setting up the fraud scheme with inflated invoices to launder money from the network. The company's operations masked payments for child supplies, with financial records revealing the extent of the laundering.[^1] Under Forgeot's founding, ASCO's vans were used in operations coordinated by Nihoul, with the fleet adapted for discreet transport. The investigation under [[Jean-Marc Connerotte]] examined ASCO's records, uncovering the scheme. Forgeot's role as founder highlighted the business front's importance in the network, with vehicles key in the timeline of kidnappings. His establishment of ASCO enabled the logistical support for the crimes, with the company serving as a conduit for illicit funds.[^1] ### Legal Outcome Forgeot faced no direct charges in the Dutroux affair, with the focus on Nihoul and Dutroux for abductions. ASCO's bankruptcy followed the 1996 arrests, with assets seized during the probe. Forgeot was questioned but not prosecuted for trafficking, with his role limited to founding and early operations. The 2004 trial highlighted ASCO's vehicles as evidence, but Forgeot did not testify. Post-trial, Forgeot's involvement remained peripheral, with no further legal actions documented.[^1] Forgeot's founding position did not lead to charges, as the investigation centered on active users like Nihoul. The company's role in money laundering was exposed, but Forgeot avoided conviction. His establishment of ASCO was key in providing the means for the vans' use in abductions, tying the business to the network's logistics.[^1] ### Connections Forgeot connected to Nihoul as ASCO's founder, with the company owned by Nihoul and managed by [[Jean-Louis Delamotte]]. His role linked to the fraud scheme that masked trafficking payments. Forgeot's connections remained within the business circle, with no evidence of direct involvement in abuse. The investigation under Connerotte examined ASCO's records, uncovering the laundering. Forgeot's founding made him foundational to the company's role in the affair.[^1] Forgeot's ties included the vehicle fleet used by [[Michel Lelievre]] in abductions. The company's bankruptcy ended operations, with Forgeot's name in financial trails. His connections were business-related, enabling the network's transport needs.[^1] ### Footnotes [^1]: Dovey, S. (2023). Eye of the Chickenhawk. United States: Thehotstar.