There will still be an independent investigation into possible negligent actions of the Defense in the mortar accident in Mali in 2016. Minister Kajsa Ollongren (Defense) informed the House of Representatives. Two soldiers were killed in the incident and a third was seriously injured.
The radio program Argon reported earlier this month that the official top of the ministry did not want an investigation for negligence or negligence after the incident. At the time, then Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis thought it was of “essential importance”.
Ollongren has now informed the SP that an investigation will be conducted after all. “That is why I am setting up an independent committee to investigate whether and how negligent and / or guilty individual acts can be established and also to follow up on this”, writes the minister.
After the incident in Mali, the Ministry of Defense had an external investigation carried out. But the committee headed by former Shell CEO Jeroen van der Veer did not investigate negligent or guilty acts. He made the decision after consulting the highest defense official.
Last year, the defense organization conducted an internal assessment of the course of events surrounding the incident, Argos reported. It emerged that the highest official informed Hennis’ successor of the Van der Veer investigation, but did not fully do so.
Hennis resigned in 2017 after a Dutch Safety Board (OVV) investigation into the fatal accident. That report was incisive and concluded that the Defense was seriously inadequate. Relatives of killed soldiers Henry Hoving and Kevin Roggeveld have long been lobbying for a criminal investigation into possible negligence by the Ministry of Defense.
