WILLEMSTAD – The Public Prosecutor’s Office outlined twelve serious allegations against Shurendy Adelson “Tyson” Quant during his first pro forma hearing in the extensive Themis investigation, including allegations that he led the No Limit Soldiers (NLS) criminal organization and ordered or instigated several murders.
Quant followed Monday’s proceedings by video connection from the Extra Secure Institution (EBI) in Vught, the Netherlands, where he is being held following his extradition from the United Arab Emirates.
Dutch attorney Guy Weski was with Quant in the Netherlands, while attorneys Eldon Peppie Sulvaran and Athena Sulvaran represented him in the courtroom in Curaçao.
At the beginning of the hearing, the judge emphasized that despite Quant being detained in the Netherlands, the proceedings constitute a Curaçao criminal case.
The case was not considered on its merits Monday. Instead, prosecutors used the pro forma hearing primarily to explain why they believe there are sufficiently serious indications against Quant to justify keeping him in pretrial detention.
Alleged NLS Leadership
Quant is accused of participating in and leading a criminal organization between 2010 and September 2020.
According to prosecutors, the organization was involved in crimes including murder, manslaughter, drug trafficking and money laundering.
Quant is also suspected of instigating a series of murders and attempted murders in Curaçao, Dutch and French Sint Maarten and Brazil.
The allegations include the deadly shooting at Hato Airport in July 2014, several alleged revenge killings following the death of Latoya Flanders, the murder of Edgedion “Godi” Norwega in Curaçao and an alleged plan to have two men killed in São Paulo, Brazil.
He is also accused in connection with an attempted extortion in Sint Maarten.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office considers Quant one of the main suspects in the Themis investigation. Other suspects have previously been convicted of participation in NLS and of involvement in some of the crimes now attributed to Quant.
ANG 1 Million Allegedly Offered for Hato Killing
A significant part of the case concerns the July 15, 2014 shooting at Hato International Airport.
Erwin “Djais” Juliana and Shentley Arnhem were killed in the attack, while seven other people were injured.
According to prosecutors, Juliana, considered a leader of the Buena Vista City group, was the intended target. Authorities link the shooting to a longstanding conflict between BVC and NLS, which was reportedly fueled in part by a drug robbery in 2012.
The prosecution alleges that “Tyson Quant and Nuto Wawoe” offered ANG 1 million for Juliana’s murder.
Prosecutors cited witness statements to support that allegation. According to the prosecution, one of the individuals convicted of carrying out the Hato shooting stated that the order came from NLS leaders.
Prosecutors also said Juliana himself told police in May 2013 that “Tyson” wanted to pay people to kill him.
Quant Remains in Custody
Quant exercised his right to remain silent during Monday’s hearing.
Following a brief recess, the judge ruled that the case file currently contains sufficient concrete indications against Quant to justify continuing his pretrial detention.
The judge emphasized that suspicion alone is not enough to keep a defendant detained until trial, but concluded that the evidence presented at this stage meets the threshold required for continued detention.
One specific detention ground related to the investigation was lifted, but the remaining grounds for Quant’s pretrial detention remain in place.
His next hearing is scheduled for November 27 at 8:00 a.m. Curaçao time.
That proceeding will again be a pro forma hearing rather than a substantive trial or case-management hearing.