WILLEMSTAD - Jacinta Constancia will report on the day she is called to serve her prison sentence. With these words, the former government official responds to rumors that circulated yesterday that she would have to go to prison today to serve her 20-month sentence.
The face masks affair Dubnium involves fraud against the BZV Foundation for Health Insurance Services. The Court of Appeal ruled that Constancia and her husband defrauded BZV by submitting a quote and an invoice for the delivery of approximately 40,000 face masks to BZV in 2021, while they never intended to deliver these face masks to the institute.
In addition to the prison sentence, the Court imposed an additional penalty on Constancia of being disqualified from holding the position of minister for five years.
Former Minister and former MP Jacinta Constancia
Legal battle
Constancia stated that it is no secret that she has been involved in a legal battle for over nine years to prove her innocence.
The former minister herself believes that she has not embezzled any money, and is not guilty of fraud or money laundering, but is still being held responsible for complications. "That is the only point, nothing else. Jacinta has not harmed anyone," said Constancia.
She says that she has received punishment five times. "I have to pay a seizure of 365,000 guilders, which others have received from the SVB (Social Insurance Bank) and spent. My image as a woman, human being, and politician has also been damaged." "Furthermore, I have to serve my sentence, and I will do so, and I am being called a thief and criminal by the people. My rights as a human being and woman are being violated," said the former minister.
Constancia expresses gratitude for attorney Sulvaran, who has done his job to prove her innocence and dismissed insinuations that are not based on truth, such as embezzlement and fraud. "The money from the SVB is also off the table. Jacinta is being punished because she should have known what was going on and gave money to her ex-partner for 'sideline matters' and conspiracy. There is no document, information, or report that proves that I have done anything wrong. People, I don't want to hurt you, but your strength lies in prayer."