Escaped alcohol penalty thanks to autogenic alcohol syndrome
Apr 23, 2024
Brussels [Belgium], April 23: The defense lawyer said that the number of cases of autogenic alcohol syndrome in the world was underestimated after his client was fined for alcohol while driving.
The Guardian newspaper reported on April 23 that a Belgian man with a very rare metabolic disease that causes the body to produce alcohol was dismissed by the court for driving with an alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
This 40-year-old man was proven to have autonomic alcohol syndrome (ABS), which causes food in the stomach to ferment, increasing blood alcohol levels and leading to signs of intoxication. The identity of this person has not been disclosed.
Defense lawyer Anse Ghesquiere confirmed information about the incident after Belgian media reported on the trial on April 22.
According to her, the scientific community believes that the number of ABS cases in the world has been underestimated. Currently, only about 20 people in the world have been officially diagnosed with autogenic alcohol syndrome.
She emphasized that her client provided evidence of ABS after receiving test results from 3 doctors. The court recognized that unforeseen legal factors applied to the case and acquitted him .
Previously, according to AFP, police forced this person to blow his alcohol concentration in April 2022 and recorded an alcohol concentration of 0.91 mg/l. One month later, he was again recorded with an alcohol level of 0.71 mg/l. The legal alcohol limit in Belgium is 0.22 mg/l of breath.
Previously in 2019, this person was fined and had his driver's license suspended, even though he affirmed that he did not drink alcohol. He appeared to be unaware of his syndrome before his final examination.
Attorney Ghesquiere said she and her client are waiting for official notification of the acquittal. She noted that the prosecution has one month to file an appeal if it wishes. Meanwhile, this man is following a low-carbohydrate diet to avoid his stomach producing too much alcohol.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
