Robert van Trikt, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname, has been summoned as a suspect in a new criminal investigation by the Public Prosecution Service (OM). He is required to appear before the examining magistrate on Wednesday, November 26. The allegations against Van Trikt include violating legal regulations, such as entering into agreements on behalf of or at the expense of the state or a state institution, as outlined in Article 13 of the Anti-Corruption Act. Additionally, he is accused of embezzlement of funds or valuable securities and fraud committed by a public official, involving a breach of a special duty or the misuse of power, opportunity, or means provided by his position. Van Trikt, who was previously convicted in a high-profile case related to the Central Bank of Suriname, is currently appealing this conviction. The appeal process is nearing completion, with Van Trikt having presented his final arguments, though the Court of Justice has yet to issue a ruling. Murwin Dubois, one of the lawyers involved in the case, expressed skepticism about the new investigation, suggesting it may be related to the use of cash reserves in 2019 during Van Trikt’s tenure. Dubois emphasized that multiple reports over the past five years have found no issues with the cash reserves. He also raised concerns about the principle of ne bis in idem, which prohibits prosecuting an individual twice for the same offense, noting that the new summons is based on the same legal provision as the ongoing case. Dubois questioned the basis of the judicial investigation, pointing out that no legal authority, including the Court of Audit, has raised concerns about the use of the cash reserves, even in the Central Bank’s annual report for the relevant period.
Van Trikt in nieuw strafrechtelijk onderzoek gedagvaard door Openbaar Ministerie
