Former foreign affairs minister given six-month driving ban for hitting 14-year-old girl

Former minister Ben Bot (87) has been banned from driving for six months after he had hit a 14-year-old girl with his car in 2022, the district court in The Hague ruled. He was also given a conditionally suspended 120-hour prison sentence. The girl broke her nose and leg due to the collision.

Bot drove his car onto the sidewalk, saying he couldn't let go of the gas. The court did not believe this argument and did not think Bot had done everything to prevent his car from hitting the girl. According to the court, it is not proven that Bot was unable to let go of the gas pedal. The evidence gathered during the investigation showed no signs of this.

The accident occurred in November 2022 on the Badhuisweg in The Hague. Bot said he swerved to avoid a car and ended up on the sidewalk. The car that Bot is describing could not be seen on the camera footage. The collision was spotted by the surveillance cameras, showing Bot driving at a high speed over the sidewalk. The court blames Bot for not honking the horn to warn the girl before the collision.

Prosecutors recommended a conditionally suspended driving ban and jail sentence, and for Bot to pay 3,000 euros to Victim Support Netherlands. The court decided on a tougher punishment, because Bot could have done more to prevent the accident. The fine was not included in the conviction.

The former minister did not attend the hearing. The prosecutor was displeased by this as Bot could not explain his actions due to this.

Bot was the Minister of Foreign Affairs between 2003 and 2007 in the second and third Cabinets led by Jan Peter Balkenende of the CDA.