WILLEMSTAD – The Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS) has formally asked the Gemeenschappelijk Hof van Justitie to order the Openbaar Ministerie (OM) to proceed with criminal prosecution in the long-running Ennia case.
The request was submitted through a formal complaint procedure under criminal law after the central bank concluded that prosecution in the case had effectively stalled. According to the CBCS, the matter remains of “fundamental importance” due to its broader impact on the financial system and society.
The case centers on the collapse and management of Ennia, formerly owned by the late businessman Hushang Ansary, who passed away earlier this year. Despite his death, authorities say the legal and financial implications of the case remain unresolved.
A closed-door hearing was recently held before the Court of Justice to examine the complaint filed by the CBCS in July 2025. The complaint challenges the lack of further prosecution related to alleged criminal offenses tied to the Ennia affair.
According to the central bank, the complaint was submitted even though the Public Prosecution Service had not yet made a formal decision at the time. The CBCS argued that the absence of concrete action justified intervention by the court.
“The Ennia case has had a major impact on confidence in the financial system and directly affects policyholders and society as a whole,” a CBCS spokesperson stated.
The central bank maintains that criminal prosecution is necessary given the scale of the alleged misconduct, the interests of Ennia and its policyholders, and the broader role of criminal law in upholding standards.
During the hearing, the court indicated it would carefully review all aspects of the complaint. It remains unclear when a ruling will be issued, and the possibility of a second hearing has not been ruled out.
A spokesperson for the court confirmed that the case was recently discussed in chambers but declined to provide further details, noting the confidential nature of the proceedings.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Prosecutor General has refrained from commenting on the matter, stating that it does not provide substantive information on individual cases.
The outcome of the court’s decision could have significant implications for accountability in one of the most high-profile financial cases in Curaçao’s recent history.