WILLEMSTAD - The Administrative Court has annulled the dismissal of a Curaçao police officer after ruling that the government wrongfully terminated her employment based on a criminal judgment that was not yet final.
The officer was convicted in late 2024 for violating official secrecy, receiving a one-month suspended prison sentence and 60 hours of community service. Believing the conviction had become final, the government dismissed her effective 3 July 2025.
However, during the hearing, the government’s attorney acknowledged that authorities had been misinformed: the officer had already filed a partial appeal on 13 December 2024. Because the case was still pending, the conviction was not irrevocable.
Dismissal Requires a Final Judgment
The Court emphasized that a police officer may only be dismissed if there is an irreversible (onherroepelijke) conviction. Since the appeal was still ongoing, there was no legal basis for the dismissal.
As a result, the decision was nullified, and the termination of her salary was also deemed unlawful. The government must now restore her pay retroactively.
In addition, the government was ordered to pay 1,400 guilders in legal costs.
The case underscores the strict legal requirements governing disciplinary action within Curaçao’s public service, particularly for law enforcement personnel.