WILLEMSTAD – The Public Prosecutor’s Office says there is “no doubt” that encrypted PGP accounts attributed to “Tyson” in the Themis investigation were used by Shurendy Adelson Quant, placing digital communications at the center of the criminal case against the alleged No Limit Soldiers leader.
During Quant’s first pro forma hearing Monday, prosecutors presented encrypted messages they say connect him to discussions about potential murder targets, payments and the deployment of gunmen.
The defense, however, wants access to the entire Themis communications dataset before accepting the prosecution’s interpretation of the messages.
Prosecutors described the messages attributed to Quant as “crystal clear” and said a separate identification analysis in his personal case file establishes that Quant was the person behind the relevant PGP accounts.
According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Quant used the encrypted communications to obtain information about potential targets, make money available and discuss who should be killed.
In several messages cited during the hearing, prosecutors said amounts of ANG 100,000 and ANG 500,000 were discussed alongside names of possible targets.
Alleged Revenge Campaign
A major cluster of allegations is connected to the November 2015 murder of Latoya Flanders, the partner of alleged NLS leader Urvin “Nuto” Wawoe.
According to prosecutors, her killing triggered a revenge campaign within the upper ranks of NLS.
Several people believed to have been responsible for Flanders’ death allegedly ended up on what prosecutors described as a type of death list. Individuals mentioned in communications were later victims of murders or attempted murders, according to the prosecution.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office is relying partly on recorded communications involving Wawoe while he was detained, but the encrypted PGP messages attributed to Quant form an important part of its case.
Norwega Murder
Prosecutors also allege that the communications demonstrate Quant’s direct involvement in the April 27, 2016 murder of Edgedion “Godi” Norwega in Curaçao.
According to the prosecution, Norwega was no longer trusted.
PGP communications between an account attributed to Quant and a user identified as kllk595g allegedly discussed deploying two gunmen.
Prosecutors contend that the messages show Quant determining the strategy and ordering the murder. In a later message, Quant allegedly indicated that he would send two shooters while the other person would be responsible for arranging their accommodation.
Defense Wants Complete Dataset
The defense is preparing to challenge the digital evidence and wants access to considerably more than the messages selected by prosecutors.
Attorney Guy Weski did not make a substantive challenge Monday to Quant’s continued pretrial detention, saying the defense first needs sufficient time to study the extensive case file.
However, he requested access to the complete Themis communications dataset.
Weski said the defense needs the full material to see the “complete picture,” determine how prosecutors selected the messages they intend to use and independently assess the reliability of those selections.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office did not oppose the request and said the defense can receive access, with practical arrangements still to be made.
The issue is expected to become one of the central disputes when the case eventually moves toward substantive proceedings: prosecutors say they have convincingly established the digital identity of “Tyson,” while the defense wants to examine the complete communications record before accepting that conclusion.