A new legal team asked Suriname's public prosecutors on Monday to postpone the sentencing against Desi Bouterse and four other convicts. The five former soldiers were sentenced to twenty years in prison for their role in the December murders.
The five lawyers say they are authorized by Bouterse and the four other convicts with him, the Surinamese newspaper wrote. Real time.
Attorney Irvin Kanhai appears to have gone off the rails. Kanhai Potters has been assisting in this case for over sixteen years.
According to the lawyers, the Court of Justice did not take into account the military prosecutor’s letter from 2016 when it issued the ruling on December 20. She pointed to the possible outcome of the controversial amnesty law. Thus, the Court of Justice confirmed an invalid ruling.
The request comes on the last day that Bouterse's lawyer, Kanhai, could have asked for clemency. He was not in favor of that.
The Public Prosecution says it is reviewing the petition. The convicts and their lawyers were consulted this week regarding the arrest process. It is not certain whether that consultation will be postponed. According to the spokesman, the press will be informed about this matter.
De decembermoorden
Op 8 december 1982 werden vijftien advocaten, journalisten, militairen, universitaire docenten, een vakbondsleider en een zakenman gemarteld en geëxecuteerd. Bouterse was op dat moment leider van het militaire regime in Suriname.
