- Front Page
- Politica
- Local
- Internacional
- Deporte
- Analisis
- Investiga
- Live
- LenguahePapiamento
- Wardacosta ta intercepta boto cerca di Rodgers Beach cu tres persona indocumenta
- Ministerio Publico a haya autorisacion pa persigui ex-minister Chris Romero
- Marechaussee ta investiga accidente fatal di 13 september cu envolvimento militar
- Polis ta parti 107 boet durante control di trafico na Oranjestad
- Aruba ta mira crecemento fuerte di turismo colombiano y latinoamericano
- Wardacosta ta intercepta boto cerca di Rodgers Beach cu tres persona indocumenta
- Ministerio Publico a haya autorisacion pa persigui ex-minister Chris Romero
- Marechaussee ta investiga accidente fatal di 13 september cu envolvimento militar
- Polis ta parti 107 boet durante control di trafico na Oranjestad
- Aruba ta mira crecemento fuerte di turismo colombiano y latinoamericano
Public Prosecutor authorized to prosecute former minister Chris Romero
ORANJESTAD — Aruba’s Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) has received authorization from the Joint Court to proceed with the criminal prosecution of former Minister of Transport, Communications and the Primary Sector Chris Romero in the Kwihi case. Prosecutors are expected to issue summonses to the six suspects in the coming days, while the court has also scheduled a case-management hearing.
The Kwihi case involves suspicions of misappropriation of public funds, fraud, money laundering, tax fraud and abuse of office, allegedly committed between November 2017 and October 2021.
The investigation became public in 2023 following searches at several addresses and the seizure of administrative records and data carriers. Earlier information from prosecutors and local reporting identified Romero as the former minister connected to the service agreements at the center of the investigation.
Under Aruba’s Code of Criminal Procedure, prosecutors require prior authorization from the Joint Court before prosecuting a political officeholder for an alleged crime committed while exercising official duties. The safeguard, contained in Article 476, is intended to prevent criminal law from being used as a political instrument.
On August 25, the Joint Court considered the prosecution’s request and granted permission for the case against Romero to proceed.
In layman’s terms, this does not mean that the court has found Chris Romero guilty. It means only that prosecutors have met the special legal requirement needed to formally bring the criminal case against him.
A summons is the official document informing a suspect of the allegations and the date on which he must appear before the court. The case-management hearing is primarily intended to organize the proceedings, consider requests from the defense and prosecution and determine how the case will move forward.
Romero and the other five individuals remain suspects and are presumed innocent unless and until a court establishes their guilt.