High Court sentences former Suriname leader Bouterse to 20 years for December Murders
1 year ago

High Court sentences former Suriname leader Bouterse to 20 years for December Murders

NL Times  

The top court in Suriname affirmed the conviction and 20-year prison sentence against Desi Bouterse, the former president of Suriname, for his role in the December Murders. However, the High Court did not call for Bouterse's immediate request. Nearly three years later, Bouterse's regime rousted 15 prominent Surinamese people from their homes in the middle of the night in an operation that began on December 7, 1982. A threat analysis by Suriname's police and intelligence offices cautioned that Bouterse's supporters, of which there are many, could intend to endanger public safety if the former president was convicted.

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History of this topic

Autopsy: Bouterse died of liver failure linked to chronic alcohol use
Trending News
1 week, 4 days ago

Autopsy: Bouterse died of liver failure linked to chronic alcohol use

NL Times  

Desi Bouterse, the former president of Suriname, died from complications of liver failure caused by severe liver fibrosis, which stemmed from chronic alcohol use, according to the autopsy report released by the Surinamese Public Prosecution Service on Saturday. The police reported receiving information early Wednesday morning that Bouterse’s body had been transported by unknown individuals to his residence in the …

Fugitive Suriname Pres. Bouterse hid in Cuba & Venezuela this year; Funeral in January
1 week, 5 days ago

Fugitive Suriname Pres. Bouterse hid in Cuba & Venezuela this year; Funeral in January

NL Times  

The funeral of former Surinamese president Desi Bouterse is scheduled for January 3 or 4, 2025, pending the release of his body by Surinamese authorities. According to Ramon Abrahams, vice-chairman of the National Democratic Party, which Bouterse founded, the final decision on the funeral date depends on whether the Surinamese Public Prosecutor’s Office will allow the body to be released. …

Dutch and Surinamese leaders react to death of Desi Bouterse
2 weeks ago

Dutch and Surinamese leaders react to death of Desi Bouterse

NL Times  

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof expressed his condolences to the people of Suriname following the death of Desi Bouterse, the controversial former president and military leader of the South American nation. Schoof also supported Surinamese President Chan Santokhi's call for calm, urging “rest and dignity” in the aftermath of Bouterse’s death. "His death has left many emotions in Suriname and …

Desi Bouterse, a dictator convicted of murder who twice ruled Suriname, has died at 79
2 weeks ago

Desi Bouterse, a dictator convicted of murder who twice ruled Suriname, has died at 79

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Desi Bouterse, a military strongman …

Desi Bouterse, a dictator convicted of murder who twice ruled Suriname, has died at 79
2 weeks ago

Desi Bouterse, a dictator convicted of murder who twice ruled Suriname, has died at 79

Associated Press  

PARAMARIBO, Suriname — Desi Bouterse, a military strongman who led a 1980 coup in the former Dutch colony of Suriname then returned to power by election three decades later despite charges of drug smuggling and murder, has died. Suriname’s President Chan Santokhi on Wednesday reflected on Bouterse’s outsized legacy in a message of condolences to his family and called on …

Former Suriname president Desi Bouterse dies in hiding
Top News
2 weeks ago

Former Suriname president Desi Bouterse dies in hiding

Dutch News  

Former Suriname president Desi Bouterse has died in Paramaribo at the age of 79, the Surinamese foreign office told broadcaster NOS on Wednesday. Bouterse had been in hiding since 2023 when he was sentenced to 20 years in jail for his role in the killing of 15 political opponents in 1982. Two years later, after several attempted counter coups, 15 …

Suriname confirms fugitive ex-president Bouterse's death; Reactions very divided
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Suriname confirms fugitive ex-president Bouterse's death; Reactions very divided

NL Times  

The Surinamese government confirmed media reports from overnight and Wednesday morning that the country's fugitive former president, Desi Bouterse, has died at the age of 79. John Brewster, chairman of the Diaspora Institute Netherlands, emphasized the importance of maintaining order in the wake of Bouterse's passing, especially as Suriname prepares for its crucial elections next year. Romeo Hoost, chairman of …

Former Surinamese president Desi Bouterse dies at 79
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Former Surinamese president Desi Bouterse dies at 79

NL Times  

Former Surinamese president and military leader Desi Bouterse has died at the age of 79, according to reports from multiple Surinamese media outlets, including De Ware Tijd and StarNieuws. The reports gained traction as various media outlets began citing credible sources, and by Wednesday morning, multiple outlets confirmed the news. In an interview with LIM FM shortly after his sentencing, …

Desi Bouterse, Suriname’s fugitive former president, dies at 79
Top News
2 weeks, 1 day ago

Desi Bouterse, Suriname’s fugitive former president, dies at 79

Al Jazeera  

Government extends condolences for death of Bouterse, ex-leader convicted for role in 1982 killing of activists. Desi Bouterse, the former president of Suriname who fled authorities to avoid jail after his conviction over the murder of activists in the 1980s, has died at age 79, the government says. “In anticipation of more detailed and definitive information from official channels, we …

Police raid former president Bouterse’s home amid fugitive hunt
2 weeks, 3 days ago

Police raid former president Bouterse’s home amid fugitive hunt

NL Times  

Police raided the home of former Surinamese president and military leader Desi Bouterse in Leonsberg as part of an operation to enforce his conviction in the December Murders case. Dubbed “Operation Kerstbrood,” the raid was part of a broader effort to locate Bouterse, who has been on the run for nearly a year following his 20-year prison sentence for the …

Suriname police issue alert for "missing" Desi Bouterse
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Suriname police issue alert for "missing" Desi Bouterse

Dutch News  

Police in Suriname have issued an alert for former president Desi Bouterse who was in December sentenced to 20 years in jail for his role in 15 political killings in 1982. A similar call-out has been issued for Iwan Dijksteel, Bouterse’s bodyguard who was also jailed in absentia for his role in the killings. Bouterse, 78, has always denied any …

Hunt for Desi Bouterse begins as former Surinamese leader refuses prison
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Hunt for Desi Bouterse begins as former Surinamese leader refuses prison

NL Times  

There is an ongoing search for Desi Bouterse after he did not report to prison, the Surinamese Public Prosecution Service has said. The three other suspects, ex-military Ernst Gefferie, Benny Brondenstein, and Stephanus Dendoe, listened to the public prosecution's calls and reported to the prison, which is located 20 kilometers outside Paramaribo, on Friday morning. Spokesperson Ricardo Panka of Bouterse …

Former Suriname dictator vanishes after being sentenced in killings of 15 political opponents
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Former Suriname dictator vanishes after being sentenced in killings of 15 political opponents

Associated Press  

PARAMARIBO, Suriname — Former Suriname dictator Desi Bouterse, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison last month for the 1982 killings of more than a dozen political opponents, has vanished after not turning himself in to authorities on Friday as planned. Earlier on Friday, dozens of backers of Bouterse and the National Democratic Party he chairs arrived at his …

Fmr. Suriname President Desi Bouterse fails to report to prison for 20-year sentence
11 months, 4 weeks ago

Fmr. Suriname President Desi Bouterse fails to report to prison for 20-year sentence

NL Times  

Former Surinamese president Desi Bouterse, along with four others, was due to report to a Surinamese prison at 1 p.m. Netherlands time on Friday to start a 20-year sentence for his role in the 1982 December Murders. Last month, Bouterse was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in the 1982 December Murders. A total of …

Fmr. Suriname President Desi Bouterse ordered to report to prison on Friday
11 months, 4 weeks ago

Fmr. Suriname President Desi Bouterse ordered to report to prison on Friday

NL Times  

Surinamese former president Desi Bouterse and four others must report to a Surinamese prison on Friday, the Surinamese Public Prosecution Service confirmed on Wednesday. Last month, Bouterse was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in the 1982 December Murders. The lawyers argued that on December 20, Suriname's High Court did not take into account a …

Suriname’s ex-dictator faces final verdict in 1982 killings of political opponents. Some fear unrest
1 year ago

Suriname’s ex-dictator faces final verdict in 1982 killings of political opponents. Some fear unrest

Associated Press  

PARAMARIBO, Suriname — Suriname’s former dictator will face a final verdict this month in the years-long judicial process over the 1982 killings of 15 political opponents that deeply scarred the South American country. At a hearing in July, Bouterse said that whatever verdict is issued, “I’m ready for it.” But when he spoke to journalists afterward, he joked that he …

Suspects in Dutch defense lawyer Wiersum's murder maybe linked to Suriname assassination
1 year, 4 months ago

Suspects in Dutch defense lawyer Wiersum's murder maybe linked to Suriname assassination

NL Times  

The men convicted of killing defense attorney Derk Wiersum are also considered “potential suspects” in a nighttime shooting in Paramaribo in which two people were killed in May 2019. The Surinamese police reported on Thursday that the Dutch police “recently” traveled to Paramaribo to take part in a follow-up investigation into this case, with investigators from Suriname’s cold case squad …

Suriname civil war murder suspect arrested in Amsterdam
3 years, 2 months ago

Suriname civil war murder suspect arrested in Amsterdam

NL Times  

The police arrested a 55-year-old man in Amsterdam on Tuesday on suspicion of committing murders during the Interior War in Suriname, a civil war between 1986-1992. The Public Prosecution Service accuses the man - a Dutchman born in Suriname - of war crimes. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the arrested man "indicated in various ways" that he was a …

Five people arrested for stealing 46 weapons from home of Surinamese ex-president
3 years, 5 months ago

Five people arrested for stealing 46 weapons from home of Surinamese ex-president

NL Times  

Five people, including one police officer, were taken into custody for stealing 46 heavy weapons from the home of former Surinamese President Desi Bouterse, local media reported on Saturday. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, three Steyr rifles, two heavy machine guns, two grenade launchers, 25 AK-47 rifles, a machine gun, five carbines, six Taurus pistols and a Browning pistol …

Suriname election: Preliminary results show opposition winning
4 years, 7 months ago

Suriname election: Preliminary results show opposition winning

Al Jazeera  

A big win for the opposition would likely end the longtime rule of President Bouterse, who was convicted of murder. Suriname’s main opposition party is poised to win the country’s general election, preliminary results showed on Wednesday, an outcome likely to end the longtime rule of President Desi Bouterse, who was convicted months earlier of ordering the murder of political …

Suriname: Desi Bouterse, a convicted murderer, seeks another term
4 years, 7 months ago

Suriname: Desi Bouterse, a convicted murderer, seeks another term

Al Jazeera  

The charismatic president stands a fair chance of holding onto power as the country elects a new National Assembly. Few leaders have the sort of shadows that hang over Suriname’s President Desi Bouterse: a former coup leader and strongman, convicted of murder and drug smuggling, overseeing a dire economy. Yet the charismatic 74-year-old president stands a fair chance of holding …

Suriname President Bouterse sentenced to 20 years for killings
5 years, 1 month ago

Suriname President Bouterse sentenced to 20 years for killings

Al Jazeera  

Desi Bouterse found guilty of killing 15 political opponents in 1982, two years after he seized power in a coup. Suriname‘s President Desi Bouterse has been been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the execution of 15 political opponents. Bouterse led the South American country through the 1980s as head of a military government, then assumed office again in …

President convicted of murder for 1982 executions by Suriname court
5 years, 1 month ago

President convicted of murder for 1982 executions by Suriname court

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors …

AP Explains: What awaits Suriname’s convicted president?
5 years, 1 month ago

AP Explains: What awaits Suriname’s convicted president?

Associated Press  

PARAMARIBO, Suriname — A court in the South American country of Suriname has convicted President Desi Bouterse in the 1982 killings of 15 prominent political opponents and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. The decision marks the end of a historic trial that began in 2007, the same year that Bouterse accepted “political responsibility” for the killings but insists …

Court convicts Suriname leader in killings of 15 opponents
5 years, 1 month ago

Court convicts Suriname leader in killings of 15 opponents

Associated Press  

PARAMARIBO, Suriname — A court in the South American country of Suriname convicted President Desi Bouterse on Friday in the 1982 killings of 15 political opponents and sentenced him to 20 years in prison. The judges did not issue an arrest order, and Bouterse’s attorney, Irvin Kanhai, immediately appealed the decision, calling it a “political verdict.” Shortly after the court …

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