PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – A court on Friday adjourned the trial of former public works minister Dewanand Balesar, who has been indicted on fraud and corruption charges.
The court put off the trial until October 25, following a request from the accused lawyer, Irvin Kanhai for more time to prepare his case. Balesar is charged for awarding more than 30 fraudulent contracts to friends, family and party loyalists totalling about US$36,000.
According to court documents Balesar had also ordered employees from his department to do construction, renovations and electrification jobs at his private home. The bills for these jobs were paid through fraudulent invoices by the Ministry of Public Works.
The ex-minister was stripped of his immunity by the National Assembly in August 2005 to allow the prosecutor to indict him.