WILLEMSTAD – The Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM) in Curaçao on Friday issued a correction to an earlier press release about prison sentences imposed for failing to file tax returns. According to the OM, the statement released on September 1 contained information that should not have been included.

Last week, the OM summoned seven business owners to court for repeatedly failing to submit profit tax returns on time or for refusing to provide information to the Tax Authority. In addition, six previously convicted business owners were called back before the judge for failing to comply with the conditions of their suspended sentences.

These conditions required them to file overdue tax returns, submit future returns on time, and make payment arrangements for significant outstanding debts.

Prison sentences imposed

In three cases, the court handed down unconditional prison sentences. In two of those, the sentences were imposed because the defendants again failed to comply with the special conditions set by the court.

Other rulings included suspended prison sentences ranging from two to four months, with probation periods of three years. No acquittals were granted.

Correction of errors

The rectification clarified that the original press release contained inaccurate information in its final two paragraphs. Those passages referred to the alleged cancellation of tax debts of more than one million guilders, an ongoing appeal in cassation, and favorable long-term payment arrangements—including one described as lasting 200 years—without means testing.

The OM stressed that these references were incorrect and must be disregarded.