WILLEMSTAD – The Joint Court of Justice will hear the appeal in the criminal case against KEM founder and political leader Michelangelo “Lo” Martines on Thursday, October 15.
Martines, a former member of the Curaçao Parliament, was previously sentenced by the Court of First Instance to seven years in prison after being convicted of offenses including laundering XCG 2 million and involvement in cocaine trafficking between 2019 and 2023.
The court considered it particularly serious that the offenses took place during a period in which Martines served as a Member of Parliament and therefore held a public position that carried an exemplary responsibility.
Martines had also previously been convicted in a cocaine-smuggling case.
The KEM leader has maintained his innocence and has characterized the criminal proceedings against him as politically motivated persecution.
The substantive appeal hearing is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on October 15.
Martines will be represented in court by attorneys Eldon Sulvaran and Marije Vaders. The appeal gives the defense an opportunity to challenge the earlier conviction and seven-year prison sentence before the Joint Court of Justice.