Wilsoe requests direct interference of American authorities

May 09, 2012 10:16 AM

WILLEMSTAD - Minister of Justice Elmer ‘Kadè’ Wilsoe (PS) also requested the direct interference of the American authorities with the criminal investigation against lottery boss Robbie dos Santos, who is suspected of fraud with lottery tickets, money laundering and tax evasion.

Now that Wilsoe’s letter of 25 April to the head of the American State Department, Hillary Clinton and Attorney General Eric Holder has leaked out it appears that the minister’s request doesn’t offer the American authorities complete information on the case. Earlier on before the Amigoe, Wilsoe had refused to comment on the letter – as regards contents – which letter he labeled as ‘internal correspondence’. The minister has convened a press conference for this afternoon.As reported earlier by the Amigoe, minister Wilsoe sent a letter on April 25th. He literally wrote: “By this letter, I am formally requesting that the Department of Justice withdraws its motion to amend the restraining order against Ponsford Overseas Ltd. and Tula Finance Ltd.” With this the minister requests Clinton and Holder to lift the attachment on the bank accounts of Dos Santos in America. It regards an amount of almost 30 million dollars.

Instruction

It now appears that Wilsoe made more than one request to the American Department of Justice – besides giving the authorities in the US incomplete information. Wilsoe: “I further request that the Department of Justice instruct the District Court that it is the position of the Curaçao government that the april 4, 2012 order of the Court of First Instance of Curaçao be honored and that the seizure be lifted.”

With this, Wilsoe not only asks Holder to interfere in a criminal case in which Curaçao through the Public Prosecutor requested legal assistance from the US, but he also forgets – intentionally or unintentionally – to report that the court in first instance decided that the attachment on the American bank accounts of three suspected legal bodies in the Bientu-case remains. In July last year, the Public Prosecutor by authority of an examining magistrate had placed an attachment on three bank accounts under the name of Dos Santos first. The attachment on the bank accounts of the corporations followed later on. The first attachment was lifted on April 4th, but the second attachment remained.

No further seizure

In a third request, which seems more like a direct instruction to the American authorities, Wilsoe wrote that no further attachments may be placed on the bank accounts of Ponsford Overseas Ltd and Tula Finance Ltd. without his prior consent: “Furthermore, no further seizure may be put in place concerning these companies’ assets in the United States without prior written authorization of the Minister of Justice.”

Attorney General

As reported earlier by the Amigoe, it wasn’t until one week after the letter was sent that Attorney General (PG) Dick Piar received a copy of this letter. Although minister Wilsoe is free to make a request, it’s remarkable that he seems to interfere with the criminal investigation Bientu. The PG has been under political pressure for a good length of time regarding the Bientu-case. On April 7th the Amigoe reported that ministers George ‘Jorge’ Jamaloodin, Carlos Monk and Piar had had a conspicuous conversation on the case.

Interest

The question remains what is Wilsoe’s interest in getting himself involved in this case. The Netherlands were surprised to learn about Wilsoe’s request. Outgoing ministers Liesbeth Spies of Kingdom Relations and Uri Rosenthal of Foreign Affairs already sent Wilsoe a letter requesting clarification.

André Bosman (VVD) and Ineke van Gent (GroenLinks) don’t find Wilsoe’s request a paragon of integrity. Bas Jan van Bochove (CDA) described the request as conspicuous. For that matter, he also thought it strange that the Parliament of Curaçao hadn’t immediately requested Wilsoe to clarify his request. Lower Chamber member Eric Lucassen (PVV) wants to know whether the request had been sent with consent of the Dutch government and if Wilsoe is authorized to make such request.

Resignation

Meanwhile, the call for Wilsoe’s resignation increases. In his blog, lawyer Karel Frieling from Spigthoff Attorney’s wrote today “Minister of Justice of Curaçao should step down.” According to Frielink, the minister wrongfully interfered in the criminal investigation and lied about it.

Minister Wilsoe has convened a press conference with his letter to the American authorities as subject.