Rotterdam Police Commissioner Jan Hoogstraten has been sentenced to a fine of 950 euros and a three-month suspension of his driver's licence for drink driving.

The commissioner’s wife fell and was injured when the couple were taking a walk on New Year’s Eve. He went to fetch his car because he felt it was taking too long for help to arrive. When he returned to the scene of the accident, police officers thought they smelled alcohol on his breath and administered a breathalyzer test. This showed that his blood alcohol level was four times higher than the legal limit.

The Public Prosecutor's Office had sought a 1,500 euro fine and an eight-month suspension, but the court took into consideration the fact that the case had already received a lot of media attention. However, the judge did add that there had been no real emergency and that, as a police commissioner, Mr Hoogstraten should have known better.

(gsh/imm)

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