| Sven Pichal | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1979-03-18) 18 March 1979 (age 45) Wilrijk, Belgium |
| Career | |
| Country |  Belgium |
Sven Pichal (Wilrijk, 18 March 1979) is a former Flemish radio and television producer.
Career
In 2000, he joined the Flemish Radio and Television Broadcasting Company (VRT), first as editor and reporter for Levende Lijven, De Nieuwe Wereld, Camping Casablanca, Wilde Geruchten, Fris en Co and Naast De Kwestie on Radio 1. He worked with Annemie Peeters for the first time when she presented De Nieuwe Wereld and has considered her his teacher ever since. He presented the Radio 1 programme Peeters & Pichal with Peeters since September 2007. At the end of June 2012, the programme stopped and Pichal went to work behind the scenes at the VRT news service, where, among other things, he helped with TV programmes around the local elections. At the news service, he also became a reporter for Het Journaal and Volt. From September 2014 until 2023, he presented the consumer programme De inspecteur on Radio 2, succeeding Hein Decaluwé, which he combined with reporter work for Volt. From September 2018, he was a presenter of De Markt.
On 26 August 2023, Pichal resigned from VRT for "personal reasons" with immediate effect, having been arrested two days earlier for sex offences. The contested radio maker's programme The Inspector was dropped on Radio2 and replaced in 2024 by the new consumer programme WinWin fronted by Xavier Taveirne.
Vice investigation
On 24 August 2023 - two days before he resigned from VRT with immediate effect - Pichal and two other men were arrested following a judicial investigation into child sex offences and eventually placed in pre-trial detention.
On 22 November, Pichal was placed under house arrest with an ankle bracelet on. From 4 January 2024, he no longer had to wear it with conditions, including attending a treatment programme and a ban on contact with minors. He was also banned from restaurants and the internet and banned from using drugs or alcohol. All three arrested are suspected of possessing and distributing images of child abuse via WhatsApp messages. One of the other two suspects - who the Antwerp prosecutor's office says is the pivotal figure in the vice investigation - is also further prosecuted for sexual assault and rape of minors.
An investigation was also launched into drug offences, as a small quantity of cocaine was found among Pichal's personal belongings during the vice investigation and he was found to be ordering designer drugs at his work address at VRT. However, the charges were suspended by the chambers.
Presented programmes
- Naast De Kwestie (2006)
- Dienst Amusement (2007)
- Fris en Co (2007)
- Peeters & Pichal (2007–2012)
- De inspecteur (2014–2023)
References
- "Radio 1-presentator Sven Pichal gaat naar VRT-nieuwsdienst". Knack. 12 May 2012.
- "Sven Pichal gaat op inspectie bij Radio 2". deredactie.be. 20 August 2014.
- "Man bijt hond revisited en nieuwe fictiereeks "Over water": dit zijn de najaarsprogramma's van Eén". VRT NWS. 16 August 2018.
- "Sven Pichal opgepakt in onderzoek naar beelden van kindermisbruik, radiopresentator zit momenteel in de gevangenis". Het Nieuwsblad. 27 August 2023.
- "Van klacht over mogelijk digitaal kindermisbruik tot raadkamer vandaag: reconstructie van het onderzoek waarin ook Sven Pichal verdacht wordt". VRT NWS. 2023-08-28.
- "Sven Pichal blijft in gevangenis, parket in beroep tegen elektronisch toezicht". Knack. 2023-08-30.
- "Former radio presenter Sven Pichal to stand trial for possessing and distributing child porn". VRT NWS. 2024-06-17.
- "Voormalig radiopresentator Sven Pichal vrijgelaten onder voorwaarden". VRT NWS. 2024-01-05.
- "Het begon niet met een schokkende foto op café: zo ging de zaak-Pichal aan het rollen". demorgen.be. 2024-01-19.
- "Cocaïne aangetroffen in locker Sven Pichal in VRT-gebouw". De Standaard. 2024-03-01.