Aruba’s Public Prosecutor’s Office says summonses will be issued in the coming days to six suspects in the Kwihi case. The court has also set a date for a preliminary case-management hearing.
Six suspects named in investigation
The suspects include C.V.J.R., a former minister responsible for transport, communications and the primary sector. The allegations concern embezzlement, fraud, money laundering, tax fraud and abuse of office said to have occurred between November 2017 and October 2021.
The investigation became public in February 2023 when searches were conducted at several addresses and authorities seized data carriers and administrative records.
Court authorized prosecution of former minister
Aruba’s criminal procedure rules require court authorization before a public office-holder may be prosecuted for an alleged offence committed in office. The safeguard is set out in Article 476 of the criminal procedure code, which took effect in April 2024.
The court considered the prosecution request on August 25 and granted authorization to proceed against the former minister. The latest procedural update was published by AWE24.
