WILLEMSTAD – On Monday, the court will decide on the request to suspend the detention of Michelangelo 'Lo' Martines, leader of the political party KEM. The case was heard on Thursday, with the judge announcing that a decision would be made early next week.
The ruling coincides with the period when political parties are required to submit their candidate lists, including KEM's.
Martines was arrested on November 5, facing allegations of involvement in drug trafficking and money laundering during 2019, 2020, and 2023. The case, referred to as 'BLEDA,' resulted in a 60-day pretrial detention order. A previous request for his release on December 3 was denied, prompting Martines to file another appeal to be released pending further proceedings.
The judge has stated that the time Martines has already spent in pretrial detention will be taken into account. If the request is denied, Martines will remain in custody until his court appearance scheduled for February.
This ruling could have political implications, given Martines’ critical role in submitting KEM’s candidate list for the upcoming elections. The court's decision is highly anticipated and could influence the party's activities during this pivotal time.