First Session Criminal Trial Against Tromp On July 25, 2017

WILLEMSTAD - The Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) Curacao has summoned mr. Emsley Tromp on tax fraud. The first session on 25 July will be a court case where the defense can submit investigation requests. The judge will take a final decision on this. When the final court case (inhoudelijke behandeling) will take place depends on these possible further investigation.

The Saffier investigation started in 2016 at the Anti-corruption Team (TBO) as part of the RST and in response to persistent media reports about potential financial malpractice committed by suspect. In this investigation, a number of searches were conducted, including at the Central Bank on Curaçao and at the suspects home. Witnesses have also been heard and documents were received from abroad.

The investigation led, among other things, to the suspicion that Mr. Tromp did not deliberately pay all income received for his retirement benefit to the tax authorities over the period 2006 to 2014. The disadvantage for the country of Curacao is estimated at about 5.5 million guilders.

This part of the investigation was finalized this spring and led to the summons for July 25th. The investigation into the remaining facts is still ongoing. The prosecution decision will be taken later.