Fmr Minister Eurlings settles in ex-girlfriend abuse case

Former CDA minister Camiel Eurlings and the Public Prosecutor reached an agreement on settling assault charges made by Eurlings' ex-girlfriend outside of court, a spokesperson for Eurlings said in a statement on Thursday, NU.nl reports.

In September the judiciary announced that Eurlings would be prosecuted on charges of assaulting his ex-girlfriend. At the time both parties agreed to follow a mediation process, during which time it was examined whether the charges can be settled in a way other than going to court. 

According to Eurlings' spokesperson, the Prosecutor made a trade offer to Eurlings on Wednesday. This is not a sentence settlement, the spokesperson emphasized. Eurlings will not be prosecuted, there is no criminal conviction and the settlement is not an admission of guilt. 

By accepting the offer, Eurlings hopes to "now conclude a tedious and long running case for all parties". Eurlings' ex-girlfriend now has three months to object to the proposal. "But given the thorough proposal now in place, one which the Judiciary thought long and hard about, we do not assume that this will happened", the spokesperson said to NU.nl.

No further information about the content of the transaction was made public. 

Eurlings' ex-girlfriend accused him of assaulting her in July 2015. According to her, she sustained a concussion, a broken elbow and many bruises. After the charges were filed, Eurlings filed charges of libel against his ex. 

Between 2011 and 2014 Eurlings was CEO of the Dutch branch of Air France-KLM, before which he was Minister of Transport and MP for the CDA. He is also a member of the International Olympic Committee.