ORANJESTAD (AAN): Defense lawyers for former Minister Otmar Oduber have requested a total acquittal from the Court of Appeal, challenging the legitimacy of the ‘Flamingo’ investigation. During a hearing on Thursday morning, the defense submitted a document exceeding 50 pages arguing that the case was built on unverified information, procedural irregularities, and alleged political influence.
The legal team contends that the accusations, which have spanned over six years, primarily concern administrative and political decisions made during Oduber’s tenure as Minister of Spatial Planning, Infrastructure, and Environment (ROIM) between 2017 and 2019. They argue these issues should have been addressed in the political or administrative sphere rather than through criminal proceedings.
Lawyers criticized the First Instance conviction, alleging the court ignored critical evidence and relied on contradictory proof constructions regarding the Malmok case and allegations of abuse of function. The defense specifically questioned the reliability of information from the Bureau Criminele Inlichtingen (BCI), noting that the information was never confirmed.
