A closed-door parliamentary hearing for former Surinamese Public Works Minister Riad Nurmohamed concluded this Friday, with the ex-official pushing back against prosecution demands over alleged irregularities in a low-income housing development project. Appearing alongside his lawyer Benito Pick before the special parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing cases against current and former political office holders, Nurmohamed has repeatedly asserted that every step of the Pan American Real Estate housing initiative followed all legally required procedures.
The hearing was convened to examine a request from the Surinamese prosecutor general, who has formally asked to put Nurmohamed on trial over claims of procedural misconduct tied to the affordable housing project. In his testimony before the committee, the former minister detailed that all standard oversight bodies and regulatory mechanisms were involved throughout the project’s planning and implementation phases. He confirmed that his own ministry maintained the required system of checks and balances, and that all relevant government institutions including the Ministry of Finance, the Vice President’s Cabinet, and the President’s Cabinet were kept fully informed of every procedural step taken.
Nurmoahmed also told the committee he is surprised by the prosecutor general’s request to indict him, noting he has already provided voluntary testimony to the Public Prosecution Service at least five times in previous investigations, none of which listed him as an official suspect. He further dismissed the prosecution’s claim that he collaborated with unknown unregulated actors in the project, emphasizing that all activities were carried out through official channels and approved by relevant government bodies.
Committee chair Rabin Parmessar, when reached for comment by local outlet Starnieuws, confirmed that the hearing proceeded in an orderly manner. He explained that the committee intentionally avoided wading into substantive debates over the former minister’s guilt or innocence, noting that the body’s role is not to act as a court but only to evaluate the merits of the prosecutor general’s request. Due to the closed nature of the proceeding, Parmessar declined to share further detailed information on the content of testimony.
Once all related hearings are completed, the special committee will draft a formal advisory opinion for the internal meeting of the National Assembly. After the review process concludes, the National Assembly will hold a public vote to decide whether to approve the prosecutor general’s request and open the way for formal criminal prosecution of Nurmohamed.