Former Minister and former Member of Parliament Mr. Otmar Oduber has taken note of the latest press release issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office this week and could not remain without responding. He exposes the manipulation and abuse of power that this institution has exercised for more than five years and continues to exercise. It clearly shows what the true objective is behind the investigations being carried out by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE PPO
In its latest press release issued last Monday, the Public Prosecutor’s Office provides incorrect information and insinuates various things with the purpose of saving face or misinforming the community— a practice that has become increasingly common in several recent cases.
In that press release, they begin by saying: “In this MAJOR case…”, thereby misinforming or contradicting the very verdict of the Court of First Instance, which explicitly states:
“In favor of the defendant, the court takes into account the passage of time, the enormous publicity the case has brought with it, and that the case was INITIALLY PRESENTED MORE SERIOUSLY by the Public Prosecutor’s Office than it was ultimately filed.”
This clearly shows that the Public Prosecutor’s Office is manipulating the verdict and misinforming the public.
The press release also states that: “For SOME facts… he was acquitted”, manipulating the reality of the judgment of the Court of First Instance. The actual breakdown is as follows:
Breakdown of the Court of First Instance Judgment – Criminal Case Otmar ODUBER
Count 1 – ZD Malmok: fraud
– Primary completed: acquittal
– Subsidiary attempt: convicted
Count 2 – ZD Ghost Employees: fraud
– Completed Tiel: convicted
– Completed Phillips: convicted
– Completed Geerman: acquittal
Count 3 – ZD Ghost Employees: passive bribery
– Tiel: acquittal
– Geerman: acquittal
Count 4 – ZD Esser: passive bribery
All listed individuals: acquitted
Count 5 – Abuse of function
– ZD Malmok: convicted
– ZD Ghost Employees: Tiel & Geerman acquitted
– ZD Esser: all individuals acquitted
In total: 27 acquittals and 4 convictions, which must be assessed properly to demonstrate that actions were always carried out in accordance with law and procedure, as remains the case today.
This shows that the facts and verdicts in the hands of the Public Prosecutor’s Office are used with subjective and malicious intent. The case has not only caused emotional, financial, and social harm to the former Minister and Member of Parliament, but also to 17 other individuals who were dragged into the process. It cost the people millions in tax money over nearly six years of prosecution.
Finally, Oduber states that he continues to trust in our judicial system, though the same cannot be said of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, while still respecting the principles of the separation of powers. In the end, one or more individuals will have to be held responsible for these abuses.
Press release: Otmar Oduber