WILLEMSTAD - The Court of Appeal in Curaçao sentenced former Minister of Finance George Jamaloodin to thirty years in prison for provoking the murder of politician Helmin Wiels.
In the court the first instance, Jamaloodin was sentenced to 28 years in prison. The Public Prosecution had demanded 30 years on appeal.
The defense of the former minister, including the Dutch lawyer Stijn Franken, reacted very disappointed to the verdict and announced that they would appeal in cassation at the Supreme Court in the Netherlands. According to the defense, there is no evidence of Jamaloodin's involvement. Jamaloodin, half-brother of one of the island's biggest lottery bosses Robbie dos Santos and also Member of Parliament Amparo dos Santos, himself denies any involvement in the murder.
However, according to the Public Prosecution Service, the main people involved in the murder are in prison. The are Curaçaoan Elvis Kuwas who is serving a life sentence for various murders, including the one on Wiels. Burney "Nini" Fonseca, also from the island, has been sentenced to 26 years for arranging the murder. Fonseca was considered the intermediary between Jamaloodin whom he had contact with regularly during the days prior to Wiels’ murder, and Kuwas.
Wiels (54) was shot dead on a Curaçao beach on May 5, 2013 after he had already received threats for some time. Several witnesses have stated that Jamaloodin ordered and paid for the murder. According to the court, he was “at the cradle” of the attack and “initiated it somewhat in the background”.
"By his actions, the accused has shown a complete disrespect for the life of another." In determining the sentence, the court considered the seriousness of the crime and the fact that the victim was an "undeniably popular politician in a very young democracy."
Incidentally, the motive for the murder has never been clarified, although Jamaloodin and Wiels did not have a good relationship. For example, Wiels repeatedly insulted him in public.
Curaçao observers believe that Wiels' long fight against corruption on the island has been fatal to him.