PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC -The Public Prosecution Service has called for an unconditional prison sentence of 15 years for five people for their role in what is described as “the violent events” in Pikin Saron on May 2, 2023.
The five defendants, who were released on provisional bail in December last year, were not present at the court hearing. They face a total of 18 criminal offenses, including attempted murder, complicity in aggravated assault, extortion, public violence, and unlawful detention.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, the events included shooting at the police, taking people hostage, as well as arson and vandalism.
The prosecution argues that the suspects were responsible for “the violent and disruptive acts in which innocent civilians became victims.
“Given the seriousness of the facts and the far-reaching consequences, only a lengthy custodial sentence can do justice to the suffering caused and contribute to the restoration of the shattered sense of justice,” the Public Prosecution Service said.
It said that the Court of Justice is therefore requested to uphold the judgment of Cantonal Judge Duncan Nanhoe, except for the sentence imposed, and to impose an unconditional prison sentence of 15 years, and that the time the defendants have spent in pre-trial detention be deducted.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, it has been “legally and convincingly” proven that the defendants are guilty of multiple serious criminal offenses.
“In doing so, shots were fired at the police, and hostages were used as shields,” the Public Prosecution Service said, adding that it is basing its appeal on “statements by suspects, victims, and police officers (that) correspond on essential points.
“Moreover, multiple victims recognised the suspects as perpetrators,” it said, adding that the fact that the suspects later retracted earlier statements does not detract from the reliability of the evidence.
Jonathan A., Rodney M., Martin M., Joshua H., and Guilliano Z. were sentenced to an unconditional prison term of eight years by Subdistrict Court Judge Duncan Nanhoe on January 18, 2025. Both the Public Prosecution Service and the defense appealed the sentence.
Two other people, Martinus Wolfjager and Ivanildo Dijksteel, were killed during a shootout with the police.
The hearing of the case will resume at the end of May.
Last month, Prosecutor Vijantimala Panchoe called for a 12-month suspended jail sentence, as well as a three-year probationary period, for the seven police officers on trial in relation to the so-called Pikin Saron case.
The prosecution argued that the officers used disproportionate force during the unrest, resulting in the deaths of Wolfjager and Dijksteel.
A police station was destroyed by fire, and at least 10 trucks transporting wood were set ablaze as rioting took place in the village of Pikin Saron, an indigenous town of Kalina Amerindians in the Para District in Suriname.
For years, the indigenous people have complained that concessions and mining rights are granted in their traditional living space by the government to individuals and companies without the residents being consulted.
They also said that the indigenous villages in the area do not benefit from the local economic activities, citing high unemployment there.
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