BRUSSELS, JAN 9 (REUTER) - A BELGIAN FLEMISH BEEF FARMER ACCUSED OF USING ILLEGAL HORMONES ON HIS ANIMALS ESCAPED THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW ON THURSDAY WHEN A COURT IN GHENT RULED THAT THE SUMMONS HAD BEEN ISSUED IN THE WRONG LANGUAGE. BELGA NEWS AGENCY SAID THE SUMMONS HAD BEEN ISSUED IN FRENCH DURING AN INSPECTION OF CATTLE AT THE ABATTOIR IN THE BRUSSELS SUBURB OF ANDERLECHT. BRUSSELS IS OFFICIALLY BI-LINGUAL.
BUT THE COURT RULED THAT AS THE FARMER WAS FLEMISH AND LIVED IN THE DUTCH-SPEAKING NORTH OF THE COUNTRY THE SUMMONS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN HIS LANGUAGE. AS IT WAS NOT IT WAS THEREFORE VOID.
REUTER
1602 090197 GMT
