Former Curaçao minister receives 30 years in prison on appeal for murder of Wiels | NOW

A Curacao judge on Friday sentenced former finance minister George Jamaloodin to 30 years for instigating the murder of 54-year-old politician Helmin Wiels. The sentence is higher than the 28 years that Jamaloodin previously received from a judge.

Wiels was shot dead on May 5, 2013 while on his way to a Willemstad beach without security guards. He had been safe for some time due to serious threats.

Jamaloodin was minister in Gerrit Schotte’s cabinet between 2010 and 2012. His half-brother is famous game boss Robbie dos Santos. Wiels may have been a target because he was researching lottery sales in Curacao.

The defense of the former minister, including Dutch lawyer Stijn Franken, reacted disappointed to the verdict and announced that it would appeal in cassation. According to the defense, there is no evidence of Jamaloodin’s involvement. Jamaloodin himself denies any involvement in the murder. The judge weighed heavily in his judgment that it was a political murder.

According to the prosecution, the main people involved in the murder are now in detention. For example, Curacaoan Elvis Kuwas is serving a life sentence for various murders, including the one on Wiels. Burney ‘Nini’ Fonseca, also from the island, has been detained for 26 years for organizing the murder.

Helmin Wiels was the head of Pueblo Soberano, the largest government party at the time of the murder. This photo was taken six months before his death.