Police Arrest former Anderlecht Boss "Van Holsbeeck" for Corruption

Former Anderlecht general manager Herman Van Holsbeeck was arrested  on Thursday as part of a corruption findings that indicted him to the transfer of Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, AFP disclosed.

His arrest came a day after the arrest of agent Christophe Henrotay in monaco -- whose clients include Belgium and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois -- being part of the same investigation.

It was alleged that illegal payments was made as part of Aleksandar Mitrovic's moves from Partizan Belgrade to Anderlecht in 2013 and then from the Belgian side to Newcastle United, the source also diclosed.

So far, the 24-year-old Serb, who has enjoyed a bright start to the season with five goals in six games for Championship side Fulham, moved from Anderlecht to St James' Park for 18.5 million euros (13 million pounds) in 2015.

Media outlet, Belgian daily Le Soir reported that Henrotay is suspected of making illegal payments to Anderlecht bosses including Van Holsbeeck at the time of Aleksandar Mitrovic's move from Partizan for around five million euros -- then a record for the 34-time Belgian champions.

It is recalled that the 64-year-old “Van Holsbeeck” was a top figure at Anderlecht for a period of 15 years before being removed when new management took over in 2018.

A spokesman for Belgian prosecutors confirmed an arrest in the investigation, without giving names.

It was also reported that the Police authority launched seven raids on Tuesday and Wednesday in Belgium, Monaco and London, making two arrests including Henrotay in the wealthy Mediterranean principality.

Eric Van Duyse, spokesman for the Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office, revealed to AFP that two men were being held after being indicted for "money laundering, forgery and the use of forgeries, private corruption and criminal conspiracy".

The inquiry is separate from Belgium's so-called "footballgate" scandal, which has resulted in 20 suspects being charged since October 2018, including agents, referees and club officials, in a vast investigation into fraud and match-fixing.