Jean-Michel Nihoul (born 1941) was a Belgian businessman, political fixer, and organized crime figure described as a "quasi-underworld figure" who operated at the intersection of organized crime, politics, and child trafficking networks during the 1980s and 1990s. He served as the ringleader of a sophisticated child trafficking network connected to [[Marc Dutroux]], operating under the cover of legitimate businesses while creating a system of sexual blackmail that extended to the highest levels of Belgian society.[^1] ### Criminal Operations Nihoul's criminal enterprise centered around his secondhand car exporting business called [[Achats Services Commerces]] (ASCO), which owned a fleet of white Mercedes-Benz vehicles. These company cars were used in operations involving the surveillance and kidnapping of school girls in the same locations where Dutroux was operating. The business was managed by Frenchman [[Jean-Louis Delamotte]], an old acquaintance from the Brussels sex party scene, and was founded by [[Michel Forgeot]], manager of the bar [[Le Dolo]], and [[Marleen De Cokere]], Nihoul's life companion. The business went bankrupt in October 1995 after financial difficulties, and Nihoul was banned from holding management positions due to previous fraud convictions.[^1] Nihoul operated as a low-level political fixer with contacts to national politicians, managing electoral campaigns for [[Jean-Louis Delamotte]] and [[Jean-Paul Dumont]] in the late 1970s. He had connections to former Belgian Prime Minister [[Paul Vanden Boeynants]] and associated with prominent figures from Belgium's Christian Social Party (CSP). His political connections provided cover for his extensive criminal operations, which included hosting lavish sex parties at a rented chateau in the Ardennes during the 1980s, attended by prominent businessmen, lawyers, doctors, and government officials. He regularly videotaped these parties for blackmail purposes and operated out of [[Le Dolo]] nightclub where he connected with figures from "clean professions."[^1] ### The Dolo Nightclub Nihoul operated as a quasi-underworld figure who brushed shoulders with prominent figures at a nightclub called The Dolo. He was well-known in the 1980s for hosting lavish sex parties at a magnificent rented chateau in the Ardennes, events which were regularly videotaped by Nihoul. These parties included carnality shows and orgies attended by prominent businessmen, lawyers, doctors, and government officials, providing the basis for an extensive blackmail operation.[^1] ### Connection to Dutroux Evidence revealed that Dutroux's main source of income came from selling kidnapped girls to wealthy clients of Michel Nihoul. This connection was uncovered during investigations into reports of men driving white Mercedes-Benz's following and photographing school girls in locations where Dutroux was kidnapping victims. Both [[Michelle Martin]] (Dutroux's wife) and [[Michel Lelievre]] (accomplice) stated that Dutroux had kidnapped victims based upon orders received from Michel Nihoul. Dutroux later admitted this during his 2004 trial.[^1] Phone records from early August 1996, around the time of [[Laetitia Delhez]]'s kidnapping, showed Nihoul had made over twenty calls to Marc Dutroux. This extensive communication suggested direct operational coordination between the two men. Nihoul was charged as an accomplice in the kidnapping of Laetitia Delhez on August 16, 1996, along with two associates: disbarred lawyer [[Annie Bouty]] and his girlfriend [[Marleen De Cokere]].[^1] ### International Connections Nihoul's network extended beyond Belgium to international operations. His girlfriend [[Marleen De Cokere]] was linked to hardcore child pornography studios in Amsterdam through [[Roxanne Films]] and [[Rex Productions]]. These connections placed Nihoul within a broader European trafficking infrastructure that included figures like [[John Stamford]]'s [[Spartacus Network]].[^1] ### Blackmail and Political Influence During a 2001 interview with German newspaper Der Spiegel, Nihoul openly boasted of having sexual blackmail on powerful individuals. He claimed, "I have the government in my hands" and offered to provide a photo of then-Prince Albert (later King Albert II) jumping on a 16-year-old girl for a six-figure sum, stating it was recorded on the second floor of the Mirano Club 20 years prior. He also offered to arrange a call between a reporter and a minister involved in murder for 20,000 marks. He boasted of having photos of then-Prince Albert with a naked 16-year-old girl.[^1] ### Evidence Seizure From Nihoul's home, police seized hundreds of videotapes of violent child pornography, some allegedly featuring prominent people. Following his arrest in August 1996, police secured 300 videos, some said to contain footage of high-society figures and others of child pornography. Segments of one video showing a middle-aged man beating a 9-year-old were broadcast on the European satellite network RTL.[^1] ### Police Connections and Protection The investigation revealed connections between Nihoul and law enforcement. In late August 1996, senior detective [[Georges Zicot]], who headed the auto theft division of Charleroi PD, was arrested and charged for insurance fraud and document forgery. Zicot had been an associate of [[Bernard Weinstein]], Dutroux's accomplice. A further nine Charleroi police officers were questioned over suspected links to either Dutroux or Nihoul, and another officer from Dinant was detained over his association with Nihoul.[^1] ### Connections to Unsolved Murders and Suspicious Deaths Numerous deaths were linked to individuals connected to Nihoul's network. Nihoul was named as a suspect in the reopened investigation of the [[Christine Van Hees]] murder from 1984. Other deaths connected to Nihoul include [[Carine Dellaert]], who allegedly died after giving birth at one of Nihoul's parties, and Veronique Dubrulle, who was allegedly murdered in a snuff film during an abuse party. Multiple people connected to Nihoul died under suspicious circumstances: Michel Poiro, nightclub owner acquainted with Nihoul, was shot dead on December 5, 1996, before meeting with parents of [[Julie Lejeune]] and [[Melissa Russo]]; [[Georges Zicot]], Gendarme officer and runner of Nihoul; [[Bernard Weinstein]], buried alive by [[Marc Dutroux]] after witnessing the abuse of [[An Marchal]] and [[Eefje Lambrecks]]; and [[Brigitte Jenart]], friend of Nihoul, committed suicide on April 5, 1998. According to [[Regina Louf]] (witness X1), Nihoul organized "abuse parties" where child prostitutes were provided to attendees, serving to bond loyalties through sexual blackmail.[^1] ### Judicial Interference The [[Christine Van Hees]] murder case from 1984 demonstrated judicial interference protecting Nihoul. The judge assigned to the case was [[Jean-Claude Van Espen]], a close friend and business partner of Michel Nihoul. Van Espen had represented Nihoul's wife as a lawyer, and his sister was the godmother of Nihoul's child. Despite this clear conflict of interest, Van Espen saw no reason to recuse himself when Nihoul became a suspect in the reopened investigation in 1996. He only resigned after his relationship with Nihoul was exposed by a journalist in 1998.[^1] Nihoul's death was reported in 2019.[^1] ### Footnotes [^1]: Dovey, S. (2023). *Eye of the Chickenhawk*. United States: Thehotstar.