WILLEMSTAD – Questions from the opposition party PAR have emerged concerning the repercussions of Facebook posts made by the Minister of Finance regarding ongoing investigations into Fiscal Criminal Offenses by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
The matter came to light as the PAR MPs raised pertinent inquiries regarding this issue. As it stands, the Ministry of Finance released a new directive on April 3, 2023, aimed at addressing tax liabilities for the years 2013-2017.
According to this directive, a definitive approach has been outlined for pursuing debts during the specified years:
Focus on cases arising from Criminal Fiscal Investigations, under the authority of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Actively target debts exceeding 1 million guilders, with a clear possibility of collection acknowledged by the Receiver.
Include debts where the funds have been transferred to a third party's account, such as a lawyer or notary.
These conditions are rooted in the management practices of the Tax Administration of Curaçao spanning several years.
However, a verdict issued on August 10, 2023, by the Court of Justice has cast a shadow over this directive. The verdict addresses certain Facebook posts made by the Minister of Finance towards the end of January 2023.
Contrary to the established directive, the Receiver is now precluded from pursuing debts from 2013-2017, especially:
Debts exceeding 1 million guilders from individuals with confirmed fund availability.
Debts where the funds have already been transferred to a third party's account.
Additionally, since 2019, the Public Prosecutor's Office has been intently focused on Criminal Fiscal Offenses, marked by new agreements with Inspection, the Finance Sector, the Bureau of Basic Health Insurance (BAB), and Customs.
Against the backdrop of this verdict, the PAR MPs directed queries to the Minister of Justice, invoking Article 96 of the Order Regulation. The queries pertain to fiscal debts stemming from Criminal Fiscal Offenses within the jurisdiction of the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Based on the verdicts of August 10, 2023, mentioned above, the Minister has been called upon to shed light on the ramifications of the Minister of Finance's Facebook Posts with regard to ongoing investigations into Criminal Fiscal Offenses for the years 2013-2017.
To delve into specifics, in light of the posts made by the Minister of Finance on Facebook, a crucial question remains: Can the Public Prosecutor's Office proceed with the pursuit of individuals suspected of Criminal Fiscal Offenses for the years 2013-2017?