WILLEMSTAD - The three judges of the Court of Appeal are well prepared for George Jamaloodin's case. In particular, the chairman, Judge Van Gink, knew the file from front to back and vice versa and fired hundreds of specific questions at the suspect. This happened during the first court day.
The treatment of the case against the former Minister of Finance started at 10:30 am on Monday. The former minister is on trial for provoking the murder of Helmin Wiels in the Maximus case; forgery in the Passaat case; and embezzlement in the Germanium case.
At first instance, Jamaloodin was sentenced to 28 years in prison in August 2019. He was found guilty of provoking murder in the Maximus case, was acquitted of forgery in the Passaat case; and made a confessional statement himself in the Germanium case.
Both Jamaloodin, who has always denied having anything to do with the assassination of the leftist politician and former Member of Parliament Helmin Wiels, and the Public Prosecution Service (OM) had appealed against the court's ruling.
Jamaloodin is assisted by a whole team of experts, headed by Stijn Franken and Eldon "Peppie" Sulvaran, as well as by Mirto Murray, Rutsel Martha and Athena Sulvaran. Because his poor Dutch played tricks on him in the first instance, Jamaloodin now uses four interpreters who alternate these two weeks.
Jamaloodin, when asked why he has appealed the court's verdict, said he has not commissioned and received no money and has nothing to do with Wiels' murder. "I pleaded guilty with regard to Germanium, but I am innocent in the Maximus and Passaat cases."
In the Passaat case, in which Jamaloodin allegedly committed forgery of documents by means of a so-called "Credit in execution of art. 39, paragraph 1 under a, of the General National Ordinance on Land Taxes (adoption and use of voluntary correction forms) ", the former minister was acquitted in the first instance. In this case he was interrogated on appeal by judge Veldhuizen.
In the Germanium case, Jamaloodin as a civil servant - he was Minister of Finance at the time of the Schotte cabinet - embezzled an amount of 450,000 guilders. He has used subsidy funds that had been awarded to a foundation for refurbishing a sports field in the Steenrijk district for private purposes. He also asked others to draw up false invoices and reminders and send them to the Government Accountants Bureau (SOAB).
Despite his own admitting statement in this case, Jamaloodin was questioned by Judge Verheijen, who after a series of questions concluded that Jamaloodin did not need the money but did so because it was easy. Jamaloodin expressed his regret several times and indicated that he is not proud of what he has done. "What is wrong cannot be justified."
But most of the questions arose during the handling of the Maximus case from Judge Van Gink. One by one she fired sharp and critical questions at Jamaloodin, who often beat around the bush. One of the few times the fallen businessman answered immediately was when the judge asked him if he had anything to do with the murder of Helmin Wiels: “No, Your Honor. Absolutely not."
The rumor that circulated quite soon after the murder of Helmin Wiels on May 5, 2013, namely that Jamaloodin was behind the murder together with his brother, lottery boss Robbie dos Santos, was yesterday called "the greatest nonsense" by Jamaloodin himself. “We grew up together in the neighborhood. Wiels was taller than me and was friends with my brother. I was friends with (Helmin’s brother) Aubert Wiels. He was my age. In 2010 the MFK formed a government together with MAN and PS. Then Wiels and I got in touch with each other much more,” Jamaloodin recalled.
Jamaloodin indicated that over time a discussion arose within the MFK / MAN / PS coalition about the way in which Wiels discussed matters. "Our relationship was just normal", the former Finance Minister answered the judge's question about how Jamaloodin dealt with Wiels' persistent criticism. “Wiels criticized everyone. If he wanted to attack you, he did. That was his way of doing things.”
When asked whether Jamaloodin had hated Wiels as a result, he replied: “Absolutely not. If you are in politics, you must have a broad back. Wiels criticized everyone. For example, he told the Dutch that they should all be sent back to the Netherlands in body bags. According to him, the president of the Central Bank was the devil's banker. That's just the way Wiels was.”
The judge also paused to ask why Jamaloodin stayed in Venezuela for so long before he was eventually extradited to Curaçao. "Why didn't you come back," the judge asked. “You have used all legal remedies not to be transferred to Curaçao. Why did you do that?”
Jamaloodin indicated that he assumed he was wanted by Justice for all three cases. But, the judge and his own team also corrected him: at the time it was only about the Germanium case. “That is not a matter for which you have to stay abroad for 2.5 years. Your mother has passed away in the meantime. Why didn't you come back? Why stay away if you had nothing to hide?”
Jamaloodin reiterated that he was under the impression that all three cases were involved and that he was afraid of going to jail. “For example, last week someone in my block was severely injured with a sharp object. So if you think you might be locked up in prison, try to avoid it at all costs.” But, the judge corrected Jamaloodin: “Now you are there anyway. And that has come at the expense of personal sacrifices.”