WILLEMSTAD - Former Member of Parliament and KEM party leader Michelangelo Martines has been sentenced to seven years in prison, one year less than the eight years requested by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (OM). The Court imposed the reduced sentence because it found a narrower range of proven criminal acts than what the prosecution had based its demand on. However, the judge saw no grounds for further leniency, rejecting the arguments put forward by Martines’ legal team.
Defense Claims Rejected
Martines’ lawyers — Eldon Sulvaran, Athena Sulvaran and Marije Vaders — argued that Dutch judges impose “disproportionate and inhumane” sentences on local suspects. They also claimed that Martines was held under degrading conditions during the first ten days following his arrest, and that this should lead to a reduction in punishment.
The Court dismissed both arguments. In its ruling, it emphasized that sentencing always takes into account the nature and seriousness of the crimes, the circumstances under which they were committed, the character of the defendant, and prior case law from both the Court of First Instance and the Joint Court of Justice.
Serious Drug Crimes and Large Quantities of Cocaine
Referring to established sentencing guidelines, the Court noted that transporting 10 to 25 kilograms of cocaine typically results in a prison sentence of 42 months. “This demonstrates that punishment for transporting large quantities of narcotics must have a deterrent effect,” the ruling stated.
Although some of Martines’ activities were limited to preparatory actions, the Court stressed that these too are serious crimes. Evidence suggests that discussions and planning involved significant quantities of cocaine — including mentions of 100 kilograms packaged in boxes.
Conviction for Habitual Money Laundering
In addition to drug-related offenses, Martines was convicted of habitual money laundering, knowing the funds originated from criminal activity. According to sentencing guidelines, laundering more than 2 million guilders warrants a prison sentence of around 24 months.
The Court concluded that Martines and his associates transported 20 kilograms of cocaine from Panama to the Netherlands and were involved in five separate incidents of preparing cocaine shipments. The quantities involved clearly indicated the drugs were intended for trafficking, not personal use.
“Cocaine is extremely harmful to users and is linked, directly and indirectly, to various forms of crime and public nuisance,” the Court emphasized.
Leadership Role Worsened the Severity
The Court highlighted Martines’ role as an organizer and coordinator within the cocaine trafficking operations, calling his contribution “significant and decisive.” It also pointed to his position at the time of the crimes: Martines was party leader and top candidate of Kòrsou Esun Mihó (KEM) and, since 2021, a sitting Member of Parliament.
“In that capacity, the defendant held a social leadership position, and the highest standards should have applied to his conduct,” the ruling stated.
The seven-year sentence underscores the gravity of the crimes and the betrayal of public trust by a prominent political figure. The conviction marks one of the most high-profile drug-trafficking rulings involving a sitting Curaçao politician in recent history.
