Suriname official arrested on corruption charge

by Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent

Tuesday, May 10, 2005

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: A top official in Suriname was arrested last Friday in an ongoing corruption investigation at the Ministry of Civil Works. More arrests are expected soon.

Assistant-manager D. Soekhlal who was in charge of the department for garbage collection at the ministry was taken into custody Friday by the Fraud Squad. He allegedly set up a company which won several contracts from the ministry to collect garbage, but never delivered the job. Nonetheless his company claimed expenses and was subsequently paid large sums for work never done. 

The corruption came to light in mid February when a concerned citizen wrote a letter to acting attorney general Subhas Punwasi and give notice of the alleged fraud. A list of contracts awarded to allegedly fictitious contractors was then revealed. At least 24 contracts were revealed and, according to critics, also for work that never was executed.

In a press briefing on February 23 Civil Works Minister Dewanand Balesar denied corruption allegations after local media revealed the list. The minister then said the contracts were authentic and that he himself signed the documents. He denied that the beneficiaries were fictitious. Rumors have it that the ‘fraudulent’ contracts were granted to party loyalists, friends and family members. “I am aware of all these contracts but I haven’t done anything wrong,” Balesar said at the press briefing.

Confronted with the allegations the attorney general ordered the State Accountant Service (CLAD) to investigate the matter. The CLAD concluded its inquiries two weeks ago and in its report to the AG recommended a police investigation, after CLAD made some alarming discoveries.

Sources tell Caribbean Net News that, depending on the evidence given by the official who is now in police custody, police will decide if the minister should be considered a suspect. Since the corruption scandal surfaced opposition demanded the minister’s resignation pending an investigation.

Also, President Ronald Venetiaan was asked to respond on this matter since fighting corruption was high on his agenda when he assumed office in August 2000. With the campaigns for the May 25 general elections in full swing it is expected that the New-Front coalition again will come under pressure to fire minister Balesar.

  Back...

  Most popular articles: viewed, printed and e-mailed

  Printable version