THE HAGUE – Former Aruba Minister Plenipotentiary Guillfred Besaril must serve his prison sentence after the Supreme Court of the Netherlands rejected his cassation appeal, according to NoticiaCla.com.
Besaril was convicted in 2025 for the embezzlement of public funds and was sentenced to 20 months in prison, of which 10 months were suspended with a probation period of three years. He was also ordered to repay more than 138,000 guilders in unlawfully obtained benefits.
The case concerned allegations that Besaril used public funds for private purposes during his time as Aruba’s Minister Plenipotentiary in the Netherlands. According to the conviction, he and his family benefited from government-paid expenses related to private trips and other personal expenditures.
Besaril challenged the conviction, but the Court of Appeal declared his appeal inadmissible because it was submitted too late. The Supreme Court has now agreed with that decision, meaning the conviction remains final.
The rejection of the cassation appeal closes the legal proceedings and confirms the prison sentence and financial repayment obligation imposed on the former minister.
Besaril served as Aruba’s representative in the Netherlands before the controversy surrounding his use of government resources led to his departure. The case raised broader questions about oversight, accountability and the management of public funds within government institutions.