WILLEMSTAD – The Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) has issued a statement clarifying the handling of funds seized during the long-running Avior investigation, following a report published in a local newspaper suggesting that police had retained money without returning it to its rightful owner.
According to the OM, an internal review was conducted into the management of the seized funds as part of the Avior case.
The investigation found that the confiscated amounts were deposited immediately after their seizure into the designated account of the Asset Recovery Team (Afpak Team), in accordance with established procedures.
The Public Prosecutor's Office said the review found no indication that the funds had been improperly retained by police.
The OM also announced that it will issue an order to return the money to the person concerned as soon as possible. Consultations regarding the matter have already been completed with the individual's attorney.
The statement was released in response to media reports questioning the handling of the seized funds during the Avior investigation, one of Curaçao's longest-running financial crime cases. The Public Prosecutor's Office emphasized that the funds remained under official custody throughout the process and were managed in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.