Suriname Court Seeks To Uphold Ex-pres. Sentence

SURINAME – Prosecutors in Suriname have asked the high court of justice to uphold a 20-year jail sentence given to former President Desi Bouterse.

The 74-year-old was convicted in 2019 of ordering the extrajudicial execution of 15 political opponents four decades ago.

Bouterse has denied involvement in the executions.

He insists the victims – who included lawyers, union leaders and journalists – were shot while trying to escape a colonial-era fortress.

Bouterse has since been appealing against this ruling and cannot be arrested until the process ends.

The court is expected to rule on the sentence later this year.