Flemish barber picks clients bald

stabroke - With a nice talk about investment opportunities, a 58-year-old Flemish hairdresser has wrested the savings of dozens of customers for years. He became two million euros richer. 'We thought he was a friend', angry former customers say.

The village barber who used to be dressed up in his shop in Hoevenen, whispered after one client in his hairdresser's chair that he knew a great opportunity. Anyone who put money into a secret investment fund could receive up to 22 percent interest. And as a 'good client', the Flemish people were allowed to benefit. In addition, investors were cut free.

'Walter was a friend to me,' says one of the victims against Het Nieuwsblad. 'We regularly went to restaurants, and even on trips. When his first wife died of cancer, I supported him. He would never have dared to think that he would light me up. 'According to another victim, nobody was suspicious. The barber did not live luxuriously. 'We did notice that he often went to a restaurant. Three times a week. '

The hairdresser was sentenced to four years in prison by the court in Antwerp on Tuesday, of which two years were conditional. In the courtroom 24 people gave up as a victim. In total, Walter C. would have made more than 40 victims.

The barber has said in court that he realizes that he was 'wrong', but that he has no more money. 'I borrowed money to fill earlier financial wells. I will never be able to make up for it again. '