PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Mar 11, CMC – The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has filed a request with the National Assembly (DNA) seeking to indict three former government ministers. The OM says it will refrain from making any further statement and is awaiting the response from the Parliament.
The Attorney General’s Office has confirmed that a request was filed with Parliament on Monday. The OM says the former ministers in question are former home affairs minister Bronto Somohardjon and former public works minister, Riad Nurmohamed, who served in the Chan Santokhi cabinet, as well as Gilmore Hoefdraad, the then-finance and planning minister the second Desi Bouterse cabinet.
Somohardjo told de Ware Tijd newspaper that he is unaware of any accusations being made against him.
“Never questioned, never summoned. I have no idea what I’m accused of,” said the former minister, who currently serves as a member of parliament for Pertjajah Luhur.
Somohardjo said also that he has never been questioned by the Public Prosecution Service, nor has he been a witness or a suspect.
“There are other things strange about this case, but let’s not speculate about motives. What I am saying is that the rule of law should never be used for political games. Let the process take its course,” he added.
“I expected you to be the first to tell me what I’m accused of, because your investigative journalism is top-notch. You certainly proved that recently,” he said, indicated that he had hoped the media would be aware of the allegations against him.
But he said he is not fearful of any charge and is calling on Parliament to consider the request without hesitation.
“Let the National Assembly consider the request and indict me if that’s their decision. I have nothing to hide and I’m not afraid of anything,” he said, adding that he will personally vote in vote in favour of the request when it comes up in the executive committee.
Somohardjo came under fire in the last quarter of 2024 after the union presented then president Santokhi with a letter containing corruption allegations at the Ministry of the Interior. Coalition partner ABOP subsequently withdrew its political support for Somohardjo and demanded his replacement.
Somohardjo pushed for an investigation by the Central National Audit Service (CLAD) and was asked by the president to take leave pending the investigation. On October 18, 2024, he ultimately resigned, partly because the CLAD indicated it needed more time for the investigation.
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