Politician goes missing after being charged to court for rape

A Belgian politician has suddenly gone missing just as prosecutors were set to charge him to court over a rape allegation.

61-year old, Steve Stevaert's coat and bicycle had been found near a canal and police have proceeded to search the Albert canal in Hasselt, north-eastern Belgium for the missing politician.

BBC reports that the alleged victim made no complaint until 2013, though the incident dated back to 2010 when Stevaert, who is a former chairman of the Flemish Social Democrat party (SP.a.) and governor of the north-eastern province of Limburg, and said victim had been guests on a program presented by a former Miss Belgium, Goedele Liekens.

Although Stevaert had admitted that they had sexual relations, he however vehemently denied rape.

Following the accusation, Stevaert learned that prosecutors in Brussels had decided to take him to court over a rape allegation, and went missing not long after.

He was also to be prosecuted for rape, indecent assault and abuse of office.

Belgian media have said it is not yet clear whether the politician's disappearance was linked to the case.