WILLEMSTAD - Former director of the Curaçao Ports Authority (CPA), Richard Lopez Ramirez, has accepted a criminal settlement in the large international corruption investigation involving shipbuilder Damen Shipyards. By agreeing to the settlement, Lopez Ramirez admits guilt for receiving bribes but avoids a full public trial.
The development was reported by maritime journal Schuttevaer, citing statements made by the public prosecutor during the first public hearing of the case in Zwolle on Monday.
€230,000 in Bribes for Tugboat Contract
According to prosecutors, Lopez Ramirez received €230,000 in kickbacks in exchange for awarding Damen a contract for the construction of a tugboat. The arrangement allegedly formed part of a broader pattern in which high-value commissions were concealed and used to pay foreign officials.
The exact terms of the settlement, including the financial penalty or other sanctions imposed, were not disclosed. The Public Prosecution Service confirmed only that the agreement means the former director will no longer be prosecuted. A former regional director of Damen has also accepted a settlement.
Large-Scale International Probe
The corruption investigation focuses on commission payments made by Damen between 2006 and 2017 to local trading agents in multiple countries. According to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service, the commissions were not transparently documented, enabling portions of the funds to be diverted for bribing foreign public officials.
The Curaçao component of the dossier centers on the awarding of a tugboat contract to Damen—an award allegedly influenced by illicit payments to Lopez Ramirez.
The case is part of a sweeping international effort to address corruption in the maritime and shipbuilding sectors. More hearings are expected as investigators continue to unravel the global network of questionable payments surrounding Damen’s foreign contracts.