Former Aruba Labor minister to face fraude charges in court

ORANJESTAD – Former Aruba Labor minister Paul Croes and about 30 other suspects of money laundering and fraude will face a judge in a special court session during three days in late may. The court proceedings are to ensure that all parties are ok with the proceedings and to set a date for the final court hearing on the charges presented. Spokesperson for the public prosecuting office Ann Angela confirmed that all suspects, including the former minister were summoned but could not confirm their actual presence. Croes’s attorney Marije Vader confirmed that her client was to appear in court on the 23rd of may, while the other suspects were scheduled for may 24 and 25. She could however not confirm that her client would indeed be present in court. The case stems from a long investigation into the Ibis case, where about 30 suspects (including main suspect being the former minister) must answer on money laundering and fraud charges. The minister spend 3 months in jail late last year but was released pending the case.