ORANJESTAD (AAN) – Aruba Prosecutors Clarify Fatal Traffic Crash Investigation after the Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie, OM) responded to statements made during a recent press conference regarding the legal representation of a suspect facing charges of homicide and attempted homicide.
According to the OM, the press conference included comments about the criminal proceedings and the suspect’s legal defense that required clarification. The case relates to a fatal traffic collision on January 5, 2026, on the Renaissance Bridge, where two people lost their lives. Prosecutors said it was important to provide accurate information about the legal process.
The Public Prosecution Service explained that the suspect was initially represented by a lawyer of his own choosing before adding a second and later a third attorney. All three lawyers were officially registered with the Joint Court of Justice, as required under the law. The suspect later requested permission for a fourth attorney, who is not registered with the court, to participate in the case under the responsibility of the third lawyer. The court had scheduled a hearing on that request for June 16, 2026.
Before the hearing took place, however, the first two lawyers formally withdrew from the case, followed shortly afterward by the third attorney. As a result, the suspect was left without legal representation, prompting the Public Prosecution Service to notify the Dean of the Bar Association about the situation.
On June 22, 2026, the Joint Court of Justice rejected the request to allow the unregistered fourth attorney to represent the suspect. The court ruled that the case did not qualify as an exceptional circumstance under the applicable law and noted that there are sufficient qualified and experienced registered attorneys available to provide legal representation.
The OM emphasized that the suspect remains entitled to proper legal representation and that this right will continue to be protected within the framework of Aruba’s legal system. Prosecutors added that the criminal proceedings will continue carefully and in accordance with the law while respecting the rights of everyone involved, including the victims, the suspect, and the wider community.
