Today the Court of Appeal handled the hearing in the Flamingo case.
This major case concerns complicity in abuse of office, complicity in fraud, and complicity in passive corruption, and began in 2022 with the arrest of the main suspect, O.E.O., a former minister and member of parliament. In addition to this prominent politician, seven other suspects were prosecuted, including four public officials.
During today’s proceedings, the defense submitted several investigative requests. The Court of Appeal granted two of these requests to hear witnesses.
In February of this year, the Public Prosecution Service filed an appeal against the sentences handed down by the Court of First Instance against O.E.O. and against the suspect E.F.E., a public official. Both of them, along with a third suspect, also filed appeals against their convictions.
On January 22, 2025, the Court of First Instance convicted O.E.O. of complicity in fraud, attempted fraud against the Country of Aruba, and abuse of his position as minister during the period 2017–2020.
He was sentenced to one year in prison, of which 319 days are suspended, and in addition, 240 hours of community service. For some charges, including passive corruption, he was acquitted.
The Court acquitted the suspect E.F.E. of all three charges against him.
It was announced today that the Court of Appeal will hear the Flamingo case on its merits at the beginning of June 2026.
Press Release : OM