THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD - The conviction of a former leader of a religious community in Curaçao, including 14 years in prison for sexual abuse of seven young female members, remains intact. The Supreme Court ruled that this week.

The case

The suspect was the founder and the organizational and spiritual leader of the religious community Rains of the Blessings for All Nations Messianic Community Curaçao. The Common Court of Justice found that the man sexually abused three teenage girls and four young adults in the period 2006 to 2016. The youngest victim was only twelve years old when the abuse started. The girls and young women were all members of the religious community. The abuse ranged from a single unauthorized physical touch to rape. The Court sentenced the suspect to 14 years in prison. He also received a professional ban for the maximum duration of 19 years. The suspect appealed in cassation to the Supreme Court.

Cassation complaints

The accused's lawyer asks the Supreme Court to annul the decision of the Court. He believes, among other things, that there is insufficient evidence for several facts because the evidence used by the Court does not meet the legal minimum of evidence. For some of the offenses would not have been fornication. In addition, there is a complaint about the number of years received as punishment that was not adequately motivated.

Judgment of the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal in cassation. The Supreme Court dismissed the cassation complaints without substantive reasons because the cassation appeal is unfounded and does not raise any legally important new questions.

With the decision of the Supreme Court, the conviction is final.