Sihame El Kaouakibi

Sihame El Kaouakibi (born 9 July 1986) is a Belgian politician and the founder of the Let's go urban project.[1] In 2021 she was accused of fraudulent use of government subsidies.[2] Almost 1 million euro is claimed to have been used for her own profit.[3]

Sihame El Kaouakibi
Sihame El Kaouakibi
Member of the Flemish Parliament
Assumed office
2019
Personal details
Born (1986-07-09) 9 July 1986
Boom
NationalityBelgian
OccupationPolitician
Websitesihame.be

Biography

El Kaouakibi grew up in Boom as one of seven children.[4] In 2009 El Kaouakibi founded Let's Go Urban,[1] in 2013 Youth and Urban Projects and in 2014 A Woman's View.[5] In 2014 she was nominated as a member of the board of directors of the Flemish Radio and Television Broadcasting Organisation by the political party OpenVLD.[6] In 2019 the OpenVld placed her on their electoral list for the Flemish Parliament.[7] She was elected with 10704 votes. In 2021 she left the party after the financial scandal broke lose. Currently, she is still active in the Flemish parliament as an independent politician.[8]

Financial scandals

In February 2021 an inquiry was opened for potential financial fraud at her organisation Let's Go Urban. An independent audit was performed and several obscure financial constructions were found.[9] Following the potential problems found by the audit, the city of Antwerp opened an investigation regarding several thousands in subsidies given to Let's Go Urban to figure out what happened with the money.[10] In addition to the above investigations, the public prosecutor's office of Antwerp also opened an investigation regarding the potential fraud by El Kaouakibi.[11]

El Kaouakibi herself filed a complaint against unknown persons. According to her, documents were adjusted and leaked to the press.[12]

On 28 March VTM Nieuws provided evidence of potential fraud with invoices.[13] In a preliminary report, a potential of 450,000 euro in subsidies was embezzled from Let's Go Urban to El Kaouakibi's private accounts.[14][15]

Based on the preliminary report regarding potential embezzlement, the Federal Public Service Interior started an investigation regarding subsidies given to WeLoveBxl, the Brussels branch of Let's Go Urban.[16][17][2]

In early April 2021 the city of Antwerp had the assets of El Kaouakibi seized after reports that she wanted to sell real estate.[18][19] A new audit from the city of Antwerp showed that 350,000 euro was embezzled.[20]

Awards
  • 2018: Global Diversity Award[21]

References
  1. Workshop group Let’s Go Urban under investigation for ‘financial irregularitie brusselstimes.com, 3 February 2021
  2. WeLoveBXL founder investigated for misuse of subsidies thebuletin.be, Lisa Bradshaw, 6 April 2021
  3. Kaouakibi zou een miljoen euro naar eigen bedrijven hebben versluisd standaard.be, 31 March 2021, article in Dutch
  4. Sihame El Kaouakibi, sociaal onderneemster in de politieke arena: "Ik denk oprecht dat we door deze crisis geïnspireerd kunnen raken", Bloovi, 25 January 2021, article in Dutch.
  5. Ik ben nog nooit zo onzeker geweest standaard.be, Griet Plets, article in Dutch
  6. Dirk Sterckx wordt VRT-bestuurder demorgen.be, Jan Debackere, article in Dutch
  7. Open Vld heeft met Sihame El Kaouakibi wit konijn beet in Antwerpen, Het Laatste Nieuws, 20 February 2019, article in Dutch
  8. Sihame El Kaouakibi stapt zelf uit Open VLD, maar blijft wel in Vlaams Parlement zitten vrt.be, Freek Willems, 8 April 2021, article in Dutch
  9. Audit van bedrijven Vlaams Parlementslid El Kaouakibi toont boekhoudkundige chaos en gebrek aan tussenschotten vrt.be, 3 February 2021, article in Dutch
  10. Onderzoek naar vermoedelijke financiële onregelmatigheden bij Let's Go Urban van Open VLD-volksvertegenwoordiger vrt.be, 2 February 2021, article in Dutch.
  11. Antwerpse parket opent onderzoek naar Let's Go Urban van Open VLD-politica Sihame El Kaouakibi vrt.be, 5 February 2021, article in Dutch.
  12. Open VLD-voorzitter Lachaert wil parlementslid El Kaouakibi op non-actief zetten, zelf dient ze een strafklacht in, vrt.be, 11 February 2021, article in Dutch.
  13. Net rond Sihame El Kaouakibi lijkt zich te sluiten Knack.be, 28 March 2021, article in Dutch
  14. Van "georganiseerd bedrog" tot "fake": voorlopige verslag over Sihame El Kaouakibi is klaar (en taal is vernietigend) vrt.be, 29 maart 2021.
  15. Controversy in Flanders: Has MEP Sihame El Kaouakibi embezzled public money for her dressing room? arched.com, 31 March 2021
  16. Nu al vijf verschillende onderzoeken naar El Kaouakibi: een overzicht, Business AM, 31 March 2021, article in Dutch.
  17. Judicial net closes around Let’s Go Urban founder brusselstimes.com, 31 March 2021
  18. The city of Antwerp has the assets of Sihame El Kaouakibi seized, after reports that she wants to sell real estate netherlandsnewslive.com
  19. Stad Antwerpen laat beslag leggen op miljoenen van Sihame El Kaouakibi na meldingen dat ze haar vastgoed probeerde te verkopen HLN.be, 4 April 2021, article in Dutch.
  20. Audit stad Antwerpen na heisa rond El Kaouakibi: 350.000 euro voor Let’s Go Urban verduisterd demorgen.be, 15 April 2021, article in Dutch
  21. Stanton Chase presents Global Diversity Award in Brussels Staton Chae, 30 maart 2021.
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