WILLEMSTAD - The upcoming appeal hearing for the Inex 2.0 case has been scheduled for September, following a decision made during the recent procedural hearing. This next phase will once again consist of a preparatory hearing. Notably, the main suspect, Mariens Mariano, was absent from yesterday's proceedings, and his lawyer, Athena Sulvaran, did not request any further investigation.
The Public Prosecutor's Office lodged an appeal against the verdict from the First Instance, where all five suspects were acquitted.
Inex 2.0 Case
The Inex 2.0 case revolves around the theft of 600 kilograms of drugs from a police storage depot on the night of October 13-14, 2018, at Garipituweg.
According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the theft was orchestrated under the leadership of former police officer Mariens Mariano. Despite a 16-year prison sentence being sought against him, the court deemed the evidence linking Mariano directly to the crime insufficient.
The incriminating statements provided by various anonymous witnesses, who expressed concerns for their safety, did not find adequate corroboration in other evidence, as per the Court of First Instance.
However, the Court did convict the former police officer for his involvement in the importation of 340 kilograms of cocaine, drug trafficking, and the embezzlement of his service weapon, imposing a six-year prison term.
The trial will resume on September 21 at 4:15 PM.