Sex phone charges

The chief executive officer of the Belgian telephone company Belgacom NV has been charged with inciting 'debauchery and prostitution' by leasing sex telephone lines, Reuter reports from Brussels.

A spokesman said the charges against Belgacom's Bessel Kok were identical to those laid against the state-owned company's chairman, Benoit Remiche, in February. The 'Pink Telephones', as they are called, generated a 1.4bn franc (pounds 27.1m) profit for Belgacom last year.