WILLEMSTAD – The Joint Court of Justice has ruled that a man convicted of orchestrating the arson attack on Curaçao’s tax office has rightfully lost his residence permit, confirming that serious criminal offenses outweigh long-term residency and family ties.
The case stems from the August 2019 fire at the Tax Department building, which caused significant damage and disrupted public services for an extended period. The man was sentenced in 2021 to ten years in prison after being found guilty of ordering the attack and paying those who carried it out.
According to the Court, the Minister of Justice was justified in using that conviction as the decisive factor in revoking the man’s residency status. Judges determined that his more than 25 years of residence on the island and his family connections do not outweigh the importance of maintaining public order.
The ruling underscores a broader legal principle: individuals who have lived legally on Curaçao for many years can still lose their right to reside if they commit serious crimes, particularly when those acts target key government institutions.
The Court noted that the question of whether the man will ultimately be deported will be handled in a separate legal process and was not part of the current case.