Dessie Bouterse told a local radio station on Thursday that he was consulting with the Suriname government about a “soft landing,” but President Chan Santokhi stressed that negotiations were not possible. The former president was sentenced to twenty years in prison last week.
Bouterse remains at large after being convicted for his role in the December 1982 murders. According to the former army commander, the Surinamese government has offered him a “soft landing”. He did not explain exactly what that meant.
Surinamese President Santokhi said Thursday evening that the Suriname government could not conduct “negotiations” over the independent judge's ruling. The government should not ignore the ruling either. “The verdict has been reached,” can be read in a press release issued by the Council of Ministers. The Public Prosecution is responsible for its implementation.
The Supreme Court sentenced former President Bouterse last Wednesday to twenty years in prison for his role in the murders that occurred in December 1982. The Public Prosecution did not immediately arrest Bouterse.
A day later, the Public Prosecution suspended the prison sentence for eight days, after Bouterse's lawyer announced that he wished to submit a request for pardon.
Bouterse said in the interview with the radio station that Bouterse has not yet submitted a formal request for pardon to President Santokhi. Lim FM. His lawyer is said to still be working on the matter, but it appears the deadline has passed.
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