Alleged mastermind of theft at Suriname’s Ministry of Finance arrested

Suriname authorities have made a breakthrough in investigations into the theft of greater than SRD50 million (1 SRD=US$0.03) from the Ministry of Finance and Planning earlier this 12 months, with the arrest of the alleged mastermind and one other suspect this week.

Robert Khoendjbiharie was taken into custody and some days later, Mosa Rother, an usher on the Ministry and the suspected mastermind of the crime, was arrested in visitors in Paramaribo.

Earlier reviews had indicated that the 2 had gone into hiding. Preliminary police investigations confirmed that Khoendjbiharie had fled to French Guiana however lately returned to Suriname.

– Commercial –

It’s alleged the perpetrators used cast receipts and different paperwork to get the cash transferred from the ministry’s account to their checking account. A number of costly luxurious automobiles which had been bought with the cash that was stolen on April 25 and June 14 have been seized.

The fraud was found in June when the Central Financial institution discovered that paperwork had been provided for giant transfers in opposition to agreements made with the ministry. Opposition legislator Melvin Bouva later raised the problem in Parliament.

The scandal led to demonstrations in Paramaribo, with protesters demanding the resignation of then Finance Minister Armand Achaibersing. He had constantly denied any involvement within the crime and refused to take political duty for it.

Nevertheless, he subsequently resigned for “private causes”.

Throughout his farewell press convention in September, Achaibersing known as the crime an “abnormal theft” from ministry workers he had trusted.

He additionally disclosed that each one the cash had been recovered.

CMC/