On Friday, a judge in Curaçao imposed a 30-year prison sentence on former Finance Minister George Jamaluddin for provoking the murder of 54-year-old politician Helmen Wells. The verdict is higher than the 28-year-old that Jamal al-Din previously received from a judge.
Welles was shot dead on May 5, 2013 when he went to a beach in Willemstad without security guards. It was under security for quite some time due to serious threats.
Jamaluddin was a cabinet minister in the Gerrit Shot government between 2010 and 2012. His half-brother is Robbie dos Santos, the locally famous head of gambling. Wiels might have been a target because he was looking for lottery sales in Curaçao.
The defense of the former minister, including Dutch lawyer Stegen Franken, expressed disappointment with the ruling and announced that they would appeal in the cassation. According to the defense, there is no evidence of Jamal al-Din’s involvement. Jamal al-Din himself denies any involvement in the killing. The judge weighed heavily in his ruling that this was a political murder.
According to the Public Prosecution, the main persons involved in the murder have now been arrested. For example, Curaçawan Elvis Coase is serving a life sentence for various murders, including one in Wales. Burnie Nene Fonseca, also from the island, has been in detention for 26 years on charges of arranging the murder.
Helmen Fils was president of Pueblo Soberano, the largest government party at the time of the murder. This photo was taken six months before his death.
Helmen Fils was president of Pueblo Soberano, the largest government party at the time of the murder. This photo was taken six months before his death.
Photo: ANP
