Grafdelver Sven fired after he revealed malpractice: « They punish the wrong » (Moerbeke-Waas)
Sven since the beginning of 2023, Sven witnessed the irregularities at Oude Brug cemetery in Lokeren. Only in July last year did they come to light, after he decided to go to the police and the press. « I am happy that it is from my liver and I hope my colleague will be tapped for this, » he said.
Sven tells how he saw that a deceased nun of the Clares Poor Klaren was treated disrespectfully. “When burying a sister, my colleague decided to dig up a previously deceased nun on his own. According to him, because there was no place in the grave. He put the rotten coffin with human remains in the container of our van and dumped it later in the knicker bin (A grave where bones of cleared graves are collected, ed.). I never forget that image, « he testified.
He also saw how the same colleague filled a urn with pebbles of the parking of the cemetery. « He had scattered the ashes by mistake, instead of adding the urn. For example, he tried to correct his mistake, » said Sven.
Sven at the in question. – © PVS
The police took the case seriously and started an investigation. Sven was at home during that investigation. The facts he witnessed left a deep impression and he also followed psychological guidance. Yet he indicated several times that he wanted to return.
« In that year I indicated several times that I wanted to start back and I also asked a transfer to another service. However, I received the message that I had to stay at home and had to wait for the result of the investigation. My colleague, who was the subject of the investigation, was allowed to continue to work, » says Sven.
« When burying a sister, my colleague decided to dig up a previously deceased nun on his own. He put the rotten box with human remains in the container of our van and dumped it later in the knicker. I never forget that image”
Sven Seymortier
Whistleblower
Gravish
The investigation was completed a few weeks ago. The city employee was found guilty of graves and had to pay a fine of 250 euros. Sven was relieved and looked forward to going back to work. The city of Lokeren, his employer, thought differently and put the man at the door.
« The fact that he went to the press put the city council in a negative light, » the motivation says. « It is a staff member permitted to express his free opinion, but it must keep the necessary neutrality, which has not happened. These public statements have created an unworkable situation in the workplace and the trust of the city as an employer irreparably damaged. »
Read too. City employee is guilty of graves and must pay a fine
Sven is deeply disappointed with this decision. « This feels like a slap in my face. I now feel a victim and perpetrator at the same time. All I have done is to sue abuses. By the way, I did that at my employer three months before I went to the press and police, but then nobody listened. On the contrary, I was even bullied for it, » he testifies. « They actually blame me for not helping to cover those things. For the city council, the media attention is apparently worse than grave. »
Sven believes that he was wronged and examines whether he can take further steps and hires a counselor.
Truly
Whether the city employee involved was sanctioned by his employer is not clear at the moment. The Lokerse mayor Filip Anthuenis does not want to go into detail about the whole issue. « Everyone will understand that I cannot make any statements about individual personnel files. I can only say that this tricky issue was meticulously followed and tackled by the management and the administration of the city, which was extensively assisted in this regard, » he says.
