Belgian prosecutors have charged two people close to former European Commissioner Didier Reynders as part of a money-laundering investigation that until now had focused on Reynders alone, the Brussels Times reported.

The newly charged individuals are Jean-Claude Fontinoy, described as a former close associate of Reynders and ex-chairman of SNCB, and Olivier Theunissen, an antiques dealer from the Sablon district, the news agency said. The charges were first disclosed by investigative news outlet Nationale 4 and confirmed by Brussels Prosecutor General Frédéric Van Leeuw, according to the report. 

Reynders, a former MR party figure who served as European Commissioner for Justice until 2024, was charged with money laundering late last year. The probe, which began with a December 2024 raid on Reynders’ home days after his EU justice mandate ended, focuses on the origins of close to €1 million, Follow the Money reported at the time. 

Investigators suspect Reynders moved approximately €700,000 through his personal bank account between 2008 and 2018 and then began laundering roughly €200,000 by buying large quantities of lottery tickets and transferring any winnings back into the same account, according to Follow the Money. 

Investigators are also examining ING Belgium in connection with the case. The bank has said it cannot provide details “due to privacy and legal obligations,” adding it is strongly committed to combating financial crime, according to the report. 

The former EU leader is separately facing scrutiny for his alleged ties to Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch who has long been associated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, FTM said. 

In June 2025, investigators searched an art gallery on Rue de la Régence that was linked to Theunissen as well as Theunissen’s home in Lasne, the Brussels Times said. Fontinoy is reported to have regularly purchased artworks and antiques from dealers in the Sablon area.

Read more at the Brussels Times