WILLEMSTAD — The Openbaar Ministerie has once again requested a six-month prison sentence, fully suspended, against former president of the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, Emsley Tromp. This time, however, the prosecution is no longer basing its demand on allegations of fraud, but on Tromp’s alleged complicity in irregularities surrounding a USD 400,000 bank guarantee.
The sentencing request was presented on Thursday afternoon during appeal proceedings, effectively mirroring the penalty imposed in the first instance, albeit under a different legal qualification.
While the lower court previously concluded that Tromp had engaged in fraudulent conduct, the prosecution now argues that he acted as an accomplice to offenses attributed to his former colleague at the Central Bank, Renny Lourens, who has already been convicted of corruption.
Questionable Guarantee Arrangement
The case centers on the financing of a purported clothing business. According to prosecutors, Lourens arranged a USD 400,000 bank guarantee with Banco di Caribe, allegedly to support a business venture for a woman described as a friend of Tromp.
The prosecution considers it highly unusual that, shortly after the guarantee was approved, Lourens instructed the bank to transfer the funds to a personal account belonging to Tromp, despite the fact that no business account had yet been established.
The money was deposited into an account named “E.T. Pensioenen.” Investigators concluded that the funds were not used to set up the alleged business. Instead, part of the amount was transferred to an investment account, while another portion was reportedly used to pay Tromp’s personal credit card debts.
Statements and Findings
During the investigation, the woman for whom the business was allegedly created stated that she played no role in establishing the company and was not involved in the bank guarantee. She did confirm, however, that Tromp had paid off part of her personal debts.
According to the prosecution, the evidence shows that Lourens arranged the guarantee and that Tromp benefited financially from it. On that basis, prosecutors consider Lourens criminally liable as the main actor and Tromp as an accomplice.
Taking into account the circumstances of the case and the assessment made by the lower court, the prosecution maintains that a fully suspended six-month prison sentence is appropriate.
The Court of Appeal is scheduled to deliver its ruling on February 26.