A troubling case of systematic timber export fraud has exposed dangerous vulnerabilities in Suriname’s governance systems, nearly receiving judicial legitimization before being overturned by the High Court. The scandal involves six timber exporters who illegally shipped wood to India without valid phytosanitary certificates over several years, including species prohibited for export to that market.
The scheme operated with collaboration from officials within the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV). Anand Ramkisoensing, then Director of Agricultural Research, Marketing and Processing, improperly signed certificates despite lacking authorization. The legitimate authority, Meglin Samuel, Head of Inspection, rightfully refused to participate in misrepresenting wood species on official documents—a critical moment highlighting the distinction between bureaucratic integrity and administrative misconduct.
Ramkisoensing has since been removed from his position and faces criminal charges for deliberate misrepresentation of wood species on phytosanitary documents, constituting serious document fraud rather than mere administrative error.
The case took a shocking turn on December 31, 2025, when Judge Robert Praag issued an injunction compelling the State to issue phytosanitary certificates to the six exporters, despite no official application existing for Indian exports. The timber had originally been fumigated by LVV for China. This ruling effectively forced the State to produce fraudulent documentation that masked reality rather than recording it.
The Court of Justice rightly overturned this decision, establishing clearly that illegal and falsified activities cannot be justified regardless of economic interests involved. The court drew a definitive boundary: years of wrongdoing and fraud cannot receive judicial blessing, even temporarily.
Because the injunction was immediately enforceable, the six exporters managed to sell their shipments in India using fraudulently obtained certificates, profiting from their deception while leaving the rule of law damaged. Despite the High Court’s correct intervention, the timber had already been sold in India as Mora wood while actually consisting of more valuable species.
Adding to the concerning pattern, a seventh exporter (Jeva Trading NV) sought to benefit from the original ruling before its annulment, demonstrating how the initial judgment created a dangerous precedent that encouraged further violations.
The case raises serious questions about the political responsibility of former LVV Minister Parmanand Sewdien, under whose watch these practices continued for years. While not necessarily indicating criminal guilt, it certainly suggests administrative accountability failures regarding how unauthorized signing could occur systematically and why earlier intervention didn’t occur when integrity was demonstrated by authorized officials.
This case demands full transparency, administrative evaluation, and where justified by evidence, further criminal proceedings. The criminal investigation must address numerous unanswered questions surrounding this affair.
The Court of Justice ultimately delivered the correct message: wrongdoing remains wrong even when profitable. However, this case serves as a stark warning about what occurs when fraud becomes policy and certificates become covers—threatening the credibility of the State both nationally and internationally.
