Lopez Ramirez versus Balentina

May 21, 2012 7:54 PM

WILLEMSTAD - Retired customs official Donald ‘Donny’ Balentina is to rectify the false imputations against Customs director Julian Lopez Ramirez and refrain from making any public statements ‘in any form’ that could tarnish Lopez Ramirez’ honor and good name. Lopez Ramirez recently demanded this in a lawsuit. The judge will give a decision on this case in June.

On 2 April , his last day at the office, Balentina sent an e-mail to several media institutes stating that Lopez Ramirez’ ignoring legal stipulations caused the country to miss out on a substantial amount. He also suggested that Lopez Ramirez had done this in his own interest.

According to Balentina, it regards not levying import duties on tugboats, sales tax on the stolen gold bars at Hato in 2010, illegal import of vehicles at New Harbor, the debt of millions of UTS which Lopez Ramirez hadn’t collected, rebuilding of offices at New Harbor with items that should have been auctioned, not levying excise on gasoline for the fleet of cars of the Isla-refinery, fraud with importing vehicles that were leased later on and not sold, illegal import of vehicles from Bonaire after 10-10-’10 and false imputations about a amorous relation with a female customs official.
 
Since then Balentina has been expressing negative criticism on Lopez Ramirez, said his attorney Johanneke Schelling. Considering the seriousness of the various statements and the fact that Balentina repeatedly indicates he isn’t finished with the director yet, Lopez Ramirez also demands that Balentina refrains from negative statements in the future with the purpose to tarnish his honor and good name.
 
Balentina’s lawyer, Anthony Eustatius, asked the judge to dismiss this request. He finds it unacceptable that someone may never criticize another person.
 
Balentina alleges he never acted against the freedom of opinion and that he had acted for his people. In court, he was unable to assure before the judge that he’d stop passing criticism.
 
With the approval of the Minister of Finance, George ‘Jorge’ Jamaloodin (MFK), the Institute Government Accountants’ Bureau (Soab) is conducting an investigation into the numerous imputations made by Balentina.
 
The Customs director handed in his resignation on March 31st. Lopez Ramirez declared earlier that his departure had nothing to do with the allegations from the customs official.

In this case Julian Lopez Ramirez is represented by Johanneke Schelling of law firm SMS Attorneys at Law. Donald Balentina is represented by Anthony Eustatius .