A fresh case of fraud linked to the Moni Karta social assistance program has been uncovered in Suriname, triggering an official probe that has already led to the temporary suspension of a senior coordinator at the country’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo). The investigation was launched after a program beneficiary filed a formal fraud allegation, marking the latest in a string of integrity concerns surrounding the welfare initiative.
Sherwin Valies, department director at Sozavo, confirmed the development in an interview with local outlet Starnieuws, noting that the case has been handed over to national police for criminal investigation. Due to the active probe, Valies explained that few substantive details can be released publicly at this stage. “A formal report has indeed been filed. Since the investigation is still ongoing, I cannot go into detail about the specifics of the allegation,” Valies stated.
The temporary removal of the implicated coordinator from her post aligns with the ministry’s strengthened integrity policy implemented in 2025, which requires that all staff under formal investigation be temporarily relieved of their official duties. Valies emphasized that the ministry followed this protocol strictly once the allegation was received from the claimant. “When we got the report from the client, we immediately applied our existing policy. The coordinator in question has been relieved of her duties, and we are now awaiting the outcome of the police investigation,” he explained.
Despite the ongoing scandal, Valies stressed that core department operations and service delivery to program beneficiaries remain uninterrupted. A replacement has already been appointed to take over the suspended coordinator’s responsibilities, including critical work related to benefit distribution planning, ensuring no disruption to support for vulnerable populations.
In response to repeated reports of irregularities connected to the Moni Karta program and within the General Social Assistance Benefits department, Valies also announced that the ministry will launch a separate internal administrative investigation to review systemic controls and governance gaps.
The Moni Karta program was designed to deliver targeted financial support to low-income and socially vulnerable groups across Suriname. This latest discovery of potential fraud has reignited public and policy debate over the adequacy of oversight mechanisms and the effectiveness of the program’s implementation framework.