George Jamaloodin Explained

George Ranjit Mohamed Jamaloodin
Office:Minister of Finance
Primeminister:Gerrit Schotte
Predecessor:none (office established)
Birth Date:21 December 1967
Successor:José Jardim
Birth Place:Steenrijk, Curaçao

George Ranjit Mohamed Jamaloodin was Curaçao's first Minister of Finance after Curaçao obtained the status of country (Dutch; Flemish: land) upon the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010.[1] [2] [3] In the 2010 general election leading up to obtaining the status of country he was placed third on list of Movement for the Future of Curaçao (MFK), led by Gerrit Schotte, who became Curaçao's first prime minister. He was initially sentenced to 28 years for fraud and "provoking" murder.[4] On appeal, the sentenced was increased to 30 years.

Criminal charges and convictions

On 24 July 2014, Jamaloodin was arrested,[5] according to sources of NOS in relation with the murder of Sovereign People (PS) politician Helmin Wiels on 5 May 2013.[6] Shortly thereafter he started a hunger strike to protest against his detention.[7] On 6 August 2014 Jamaloodin was released while remaining a suspect.[8] In 2016 Jamaloodin and Elmer Wilsoe filed a lawsuit to be struck off as suspects in the case. The request was denied by a judge in October 2016.[9] He was convicted on 15 August 2019 for fraud during his term as a minister of Finance and "provoking" the Wiels' murder after that term.[4] The sentence was appealed at the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba.[4] On 8 March 2021, he was sentenced to 30 years without deduction of time spent in Venezuelan detention.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Radio Netherlands Worldwide. Jamaloodin: 'Zakenman zijn is moeilijker dan ministerschap'. Dutch. 8 February 2011. 26 July 2014. 9 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140809132658/http://archief.rnw.nl/caribiana/article/jamaloodin-zakenman-zijn-moeilijker-dan-ministerschap. dead.
  2. Web site: News items. Government of the United States. 24 July 2014. 9 October 2010.
  3. News: Versgeperst. Dutch. 24 July 2014. OM bevestigt aanhouding Jamaloodin en huiszoekingen. 24 July 2014.
  4. Web site: Oud-minister Curaçao Jamaloodin tot 28 jaar cel veroordeeld voor ‘uitlokken’ moord op politicus Wiels. Volkskrant. 16 August 2019. 16 August 2019.
  5. News: NRC Handelsblad. Dutch. 24 July 2014. Oud-minister Curaçao vast in verband met moord Helmin Wiels. 24 July 2014.
  6. News: Netherlands Broadcasting Foundation. Dutch. 24 July 2014. Oud-minister vast voor moord Wiels. 24 July 2014.
  7. Web site: Opgepakte oud-minister Curaçao in hongerstaking . Dutch . NU.nl . 28 July 2014 . 31 December 2015.
  8. Web site: Jamaloodin ook vrijgelatenn nog wel verdacht . Dutch . Caribisch Netwerk . 6 August 2014 . 31 December 2015.
  9. Web site: Judge Rules: Wilsoe And Jamaloodin Still Suspects In Maximus Case . The Curaçao Chroncicle . 3 October 2016 . 25 March 2017.
  10. News: Jamaloodin in hoger beroep veroordeeld tot 30 jaar. Koninkrijk.nu. 21 April 2021. nl.