Court gives actor Matthias Schoenaerts eight months to retake driving exams

The police court in Beringen has given actor Matthias Schoenaerts until 14 September to complete the theoretical and practical driving exams after he was found to have ignored a driving ban. The ruling issued in absentia in December, which included a prison sentence, has been overturned.

The case concerns two incidents on 5 and 21 April 2024, when Schoenaerts was caught riding a motorcycle in Pelt despite being banned from driving until he had retaken his driving exams, which he had not done. The actor was later sentenced in absentia to six months in prison, a 4,000 euro fine and a one-year driving ban.

Schoenaerts appealed the sentence, saying that his absence from the December hearing did not mean he disputed the facts. He explained that he spent a lot of time abroad due to film shoots, an argument that was also raised when the court accepted his lawyers’ request to adjourn the case to a later date.

"I was not correct to the police authorities, but I am now here to take responsibility," Schoenaerts told the court. "It was not my habit to drive around without a licence. I also employed drivers and services."

Legal issues in Hollywood

The defence also asked the court to consider a suspension of sentence. Lawyer Sven Mary emphasised that Schoenaerts frequently travels to the US, where his legal status must be in order.

"If he answers honestly there when asked whether he has been convicted, he will not be allowed to enter the United States. His previous conviction caused a lot of problems," Mary said. A final decision on a possible suspension will only be taken after the September hearing.

Schoenaerts has been convicted in police court 11 times in the past, including for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In late November, he was again arrested during a police check in Pelt for allegedly refusing a breath test. He did not have a valid driving licence and reportedly behaved in an unruly manner. He will have to answer for those offences at a later date.

^{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK}