ERA Technology's ground penetrating radar SPRscan has been used in serious forensic enquiries, to detect and reinforce evidence for the Belgian prosecution.

Andras Pandy, a 71 year old, Hungarian born pastor who became a naturalised Belgian, was arrested and accused of murdering two of his former wives and four of his eight children. Pandy had worked as a religious instructor but was suspected of being linked to a prostitution racket - considered to be a possible source of income for his purchase of three large houses in the Brussels area. The Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) Team - a special section of the Belgian Gendarmerie, had previously called on ERA Technology's expertise in solving the infamous Dutroux case, once again it requested the company's assistance. ERA's brief was to examine two of Pandy's three properties in the Brussels area. Human remains had been found in the back garden of the first property by the traditional use of sniffer dogs, but they were completely limited in achieving anything further.

The second property required a scientific approach. The police recognised that SPRscan ground penetrating radar is an extremely useful tool for forensic searches, because it does not destroy the evidence or the surrounding areas. SPRscan also avoids the expense and danger of unnecessary digging, which can result in collapsing walls. The police believed that further remains were hidden under the floors and behind walls of a cellar in a pastoral meeting place close to the canal at Molenbeek. This time dogs were unable to detect the decaying matter. The premises were surveyed using the SPRscan surface penetrating radar system and a number of targets were identified. Human remains were later excavated.

The radar was again deployed and several targets identified in the third property, some two miles away. During this search, the prosecuting judge visited the site to see the radar in use. If necessary, the survey data could be used at a later date to support other evidence.

Following the very successful deployment of the SPRscan system, the Belgian Gendarmerie subsequently purchased a radar system through ERA's Belgian Distributor, Forintec.

For further information contact: david.daniels@era.co.uk