ORANJESTAD (AAN) – An Aruba court has sentenced a man identified as A.K.M. after finding him guilty of defrauding multiple people between August 1, 2025, and January 18, 2026.
Prosecutors said the defendant persuaded victims to give him money or enter financial agreements by falsely claiming that he rented apartments, sold vehicles, had connections to a notary, possessed professional expertise or could provide employment. Twelve people were identified as victims in the case.
The court sentenced A.K.M. to 12 months in prison, with six months suspended, subject to a three-year probation period. He must follow instructions from the probation service and undergo treatment through Respaldo.
The judge approved compensation claims from 10 victims but rejected two claims after finding insufficient evidence for those specific allegations. The defendant was also ordered to repay financial damages to the approved victims.
The court considered a psychological report indicating that A.K.M. has mental health and antisocial behavioral problems and was not considered fully responsible for his actions. The judge also noted that he had previously been convicted in a similar fraud case.
Failure to comply with the compensation order could result in additional imprisonment.
