Prosecution seeks 12 months in prison for journalist 'Speed'; defence asks for a third chance

ORANJESTAD — The Public Prosecution Service has sought an 18-month prison sentence on appeal for journalist and 24ora co-director Nelson “Speed” Cabral de Andrade, with six months suspended. If the Court follows the request, Cabral de Andrade would serve 12 months in prison. His lawyers, D.G. Illes and V.A.V. Carlo, are asking the Court to give their client a third chance. They are seeking a fully suspended 18-month sentence, combined with 240 hours of community service and strict conditions, including a ban on possessing or using equipment capable of receiving police communications. In the first trial, Cabral de Andrade was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with 12 months suspended and a three-year probation period. The sentence therefore included six months to serve. The case concerns, among other things, access to police radio communications.

Defence acknowledges the offences

In their plea on sentencing, the lawyers said they do not dispute the findings that their client bribed a public official and jointly violated official secrecy. They also acknowledge that Cabral de Andrade was convicted of similar offences in 2019 and that the offences in the present case took place during his probation period. “He crossed a line, and he had done so before,” the defence stated. According to his lawyers, their client acknowledges that he made the same mistake again, regrets it and will not repeat it. They argue that, following a house search in March 2023, Cabral de Andrade no longer had access to the police communications system and has committed no similar offence since.

“The message has been received”

According to the defence, the case and the convictions of four journalists have sent a clear message to Aruba’s news media about the boundaries that cannot be crossed when obtaining news. The lawyers maintain that their client continues to work without the police radio system, relying on information from the public, sources, his own reporting and contacts with police and justice officials. They ask the Court to consider a substantial suspended sentence and community service sufficient to hold him accountable. The defence also wants a ban on possessing or using radios, scanners or other equipment capable of receiving police communications included as a condition.

Comparison with other journalists

The lawyers noted that three other journalists were convicted in the same case. Two received fully suspended prison sentences and community service for bribery and violating official secrecy. The third journalist was convicted only of violating official secrecy. According to the defence, the main difference in Cabral de Andrade’s case is his previous conviction. They acknowledge that this must count towards the punishment but argue that a longer suspended sentence, combined with strict conditions, would reflect it without requiring him to go to prison. They also say that imprisonment would affect his work, the company of which he is co-director and his elderly mother, for whom he cares.

Defence seeks to maintain acquittal

The Public Prosecution Service has also appealed Cabral de Andrade’s acquittal on the charge of participating in a criminal organisation. The defence asks the Court to uphold the acquittal, arguing that the four journalists were competitors and did not form an organisation with the structure and cooperation required for such a charge. The prosecution’s current request includes an immediate prison term twice as long as the six months imposed in the first trial. It is now for the Court to decide the case and the sentence. Court will hand down the verdict on November 17, 2026.