Former Finance Minister George Jamaluddin of Curaçao was sentenced on appeal Friday to thirty years in prison for provoking the murder of politician Helmin Fils. The ruling is the same as the requirements of the Public Prosecution Office. In the first instance, Jamal al-Din was sentenced to 28 years in prison; He and the judiciary appealed.
Wells, 54, was shot dead on Curaçao Beach on May 5, 2013 after he had already received threats for some time. Several witnesses stated that Jamal al-Din ordered the murder and paid for it. According to the court, he was “at the cradle” of the attack and “started somewhat in the background.” “Through his actions, the accused showed total disrespect for someone else’s life.” In determining the verdict, the court took into account the seriousness of the crime and the fact that the victim was an “undeniable popular politician in a young democracy.”
Elvis Coase, the co-suspect, is serving a life sentence. Borne Nene Fonseca, whom the court described as a “murder broker,” was imprisoned 26 years ago for plotting the murder.
Incidentally, the motive behind the murder has not been clarified, although Jamaluddin and Wells do not have a good relationship. For example, Fels repeatedly insulted him in public. Curaçao observers believe that Fils’ years of struggle against corruption on the island have been fatal to him.
