Sentenced to . . .

Limburger tot 1 jaar cel veroordeeld na diefstal vijver
Limburger sentenced to 1 year in prison after pond theft

The Leuven criminal court on Wednesday ordered the immediate arrest of a 50 year old man. This happened ... after he had stolen a preformed polyester garden pond during a burglary. 

The owner had, during that night in April, a polyester pond worth 400 euros seized during a burglary.

~ One year in prison for stealing a "polyester" pond?

Man veroordeeld voor verkoop valse Prada-handtassen
Man sentenced for selling fake Prada handbags

The Tongeren criminal court on Thursday sentenced a 24-year old man from Maaseik and a 30-year old companion from Brussels to six months each and 2,750 euro fine, because they sold fake handbags of the exclusive brand Prada. 

The police were sent to the house after a report of domestic violence.  There, the man's wife told that her husband had 370 Prada shoulder bags.  The agents found that they were fake copies because the logo and packaging was wrong.

~ Luckily the agents are experts at Prada logo and packaging.  This guy and his "companion" got 6 months each for selling fake Prada purses - plus a hefty fine on top of that?

Last and definitely not least . . .

Eight years in prison for rape and torture of 10 women

The 40-year-old Carlo P. from Aarschot was sentenced Thursday by the Hasselt criminal court to eight years in prison for molestation, rape and torture of 10 women. 

Carlo P. initially worked for the gullible women. What began in the care of their animals, led to an invitation to dinner. The man drugged the women with sleeping pills in a plate of spaghetti.

The man explained that he had a fantasy with sleeping women. He took pictures of his sleeping victims, while the offenses committed.
  

~ Unbelievable? Perhaps, but it seems very normal here.

I'm guessing there must be some details missing from this story.  Did the first 9 women forget to report this guy?  They knew him!  They ate spaghetti with him!

Anyway, that comes to 9 and a half months for each rape/torture - assuming he serves all that.  And I think that may be a big assumption.  Equal to nearly as much time as selling fake Pradas and less time than for stealing fake ponds. 

Prison sentences here just don't seem to have the same priority levels as in the States.  Perhaps because there's not all that much crime here, Belgium hasn't figured out that serial rape/torture is worse than theft and  counterfeiting?  Or, heaven forbid, they actually see them the same. 

By the way, the sentence for a serial rapist in the U.S. - life without parole.

Your guess is as good as mine on sentences in the U.S. for purloined ponds and pretend Pradas, but I think I'm safe in assuming it ain't life without parole.