WILLEMSTAD – Former Member of Parliament Rennox Calmes, leader of the political party Trabou pa Kòrsou (TPK), is facing serious charges for allegedly forging payslips of three parliamentary staff members between March 2022 and February 2023 to secure inflated benefit payments. 

According to the Public Prosecution Office, Calmes submitted false gross salary figures—ranging from NAf 3,670 to NAf 11,316—on twelve payslips. These were sent via email or WhatsApp to the Parliament’s registrar. Since parliamentary staff are entitled to an allowance equal to 25% of their most recent salary, the inflated figures resulted in unjustified additional payments. 

The investigation revealed that one employee, identified by the initial B., received five falsified payslips between March and November 2022. The other two employees were each issued three and four forged documents, respectively. 

During the court hearing, it became clear that Calmes currently has no fixed address and appeared without legal representation. He requested a postponement to secure a lawyer. The prosecution also requested that his partner, identified as J.V. and one of the involved employees, be called as a witness. 

The full trial is scheduled to begin on September 1, when the prosecution will present its sentencing demand.