Suriname: A criminal investigation after the death of ex-president Bouterse

Suriname police announced the opening of an investigation into the transfer of the body of ex-president Desi Bouterse, who died on Tuesday, from the place where he hid for almost a year to avoid prison at his residence located in the capital.

The remains of Desi Bouterse, who died at the age of 79, “showed no signs of criminality” and “were taken for an autopsy to determine the probable cause of death,” police said in a statement released Wednesday evening.

“A criminal investigation is underway and several people are being questioned,” she added.

Convicted of murdering 15 people in 1982

According to the first testimonies collected by the authorities, the body of the autocratic leader, convicted of the murder of 15 people in 1982, was transported to his home in the capital Paramaribo by “unknown people”.

In December 2023, Desi Bouterse was sentenced on appeal to 20 years in prison for executions of lawyers, journalists, businessmen and soldiers imprisoned in December 1982. Since then, he has been in hiding.

“I can be very brief, that means the organization is very good,” said Ramon Abrahams, co-chairman of the National Democratic Party (PND) – founded by Desi Bouterse – and retired military officer, in response to questions from journalists. on the fact that the former president was in hiding for almost a year. “He was a high-ranking soldier and if a soldier hides, he is safe.”

A second coup d’état

Very popular in Suriname, Désiré Delano Bouterse came to power at the age of 34 following a coup in 1980, when he was a sergeant major in the army.

He stepped down in 1987 under international pressure, but returned to power in 1990 after a second coup, this time without bloodshed.

Desi Bouterse left office a year later, before being elected president in 2010 and remaining in power until 2020.

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