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### Viewing cable 07PARAMARIBO444, CORRUPTION CORRODES MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THREATENS

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07PARAMARIBO444 | 2007-08-20 18:06 | 2011-02-10 16:04 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Paramaribo

`

    VZCZCXRO4981
    PP RUEHGR
    DE RUEHPO #0444/01 2321859
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    P 201859Z AUG 07
    FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9613
    INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
    RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 1150

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000444

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    STATE FOR WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT; INR FOR BCARHART; EB FOR BETH
    LAMPRON

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV KCOR NS
    SUBJECT: CORRUPTION CORRODES MINISTRY OF FINANCE, THREATENS
    MINISTER?

    PARAMARIBO 00000444 001.2 OF 002

    2003 PARAMARIBO 00531, 2005 PARAMARIBO 00589, 2007 PARAMARIBO 00120
    AND 00131

    ¶1. SUMMARY: Authorities in Suriname are investigating a suspected
    fraud conspiracy within the Ministry of Finance and possible links
    to the Ministry of Education. According to Minister of Finance
    Humphrey Hildenberg, employees in his Ministry have embezzled
    approximately U.S. $375,000. The Minister does not appear to be
    directly involved in the matter. He pre-empted the leaking of the
    scandal to the press and negated an attack in Parliament by
    informing media himself during a surprise press briefing. This
    admission looked to exculpate his guilt in the affair. Even though
    some have called for Minister's Hildenberg's resignation, this would
    appear to be premature. Only Ministers proven guilty in the past
    have actually resigned, and none so far has gone to jail. END
    SUMMARY

    -----------------------------
    ADDING FIVES INSTEAD OF ZEROS
    -----------------------------

    ¶2. The Government's Central Account Department (CLAD) has started a
    financial investigation and the Prosecutor's Office will begin a
    criminal investigation against sixteen individuals. Those involved
    are alleged to have manipulated more than 52 invoices. Three of the
    sixteen individuals were private contractors who provided goods and
    services to the Ministry of Education. According to Minister
    Hildenberg, the suspects manipulated the documents after the payment
    was approved at the Ministry of Education but before they were
    delivered to the Ministry of Finance. One example showed that a
    contractor received Surinamese dollars (SRD) 55,250 (US $19,700)
    instead of the SRD 250 (US $89) he was authorized to receive. After
    the money was transferred to the bank accounts of the contractors,
    allegedly the government workers involved in the collusion received
    their share. According to Minister Hildenberg, his workers in his
    Ministry have embezzled about 1 million SRD (US $375,000). However,
    journalists reported finding official documents indicating that 1.8
    million SRD (US $643,000) were stolen. One media source reported
    the GOS was swindled out of 6 million SRD (US $2,141,857).

    -----------------------------
    PRE-EMPTIVE MOVE AND RESPONSE
    -----------------------------

    ¶3. In response to evidence of fraud discovered by CLAD on August 8,
    Minister Hildenberg decided to speak out to the media. He said he
    was shocked that these fraudulent practices went unnoticed since
    tampering with documents included using correction fluid and other
    obvious irregularities. Opposition members asked how this could
    have gone unnoticed and asked for assurance from the government and
    its investigative bodies that all information will be shared in the
    future and for measures to be taken to prevent this from happening
    again. This is ironic as an official at the MFA told EmOffs that
    Minister Hildenberg has a good reputation, and is considered to be
    one of our best Ministers.

    -------------------------------------------
    DO THE BIG FISH GO TO JAIL? WELL, SOMETIMES
    -------------------------------------------

    ¶4. Since the New Front Coalition came to power in May, 2000, several
    financial and corruption scandals have erupted. In only one case
    was there any punitive time served for corruption. Errol Alibrux, a
    Finance Minister during the Widjenbosch presidency years, was
    prosecuted and convicted for using government funds to purchase a
    building for four times its value. He spent a few months in jail.
    Otherwise, most cases have ended at worst in resignations or
    dragged-out court procedures.

    ¶5. The former Minister of Public Works, Dewanand Balesar, also is
    being prosecuted for corruption (REF B). He is accused of allegedly
    awarding fraudulent contracts totaling US $34,000 to fictitious
    contractors for garbage removal at illegal dump sites. Balesar is
    also accused of using government funds to finance improvements to
    his private home, while bills showed the work was done at the
    Ministry of Public Works. In another case, fifteen of the
    Minister's workers and contractors were sentenced to several months
    in jail. The Minister is currently on trial.

    ¶6. In late 2005, then Minister of Justice and Police Siegfried
    Gilds, was accused of money laundering in complicity with his
    nephew, Andy Groenewoud, a convicted drugs dealer in the
    Netherlands. In Suriname, two of the Minister's associates were
    tried, leading to one conviction and one acquittal. Because of the
    charges brought against the Minister, the President asked him to
    resign in January, 2006. Gilds remains Chairman of Suriname's Labor
    Party (SPA), part of the governing coalition.

    PARAMARIBO 00000444 002.2 OF 002

    ¶7. In March of 2007, Alice Amafo, Suriname's Minister of Transport,
    Communication, and Tourism came under fire after submitting bills
    amounting to SRD 36,000 (US $13,000) to the Ministry of Finance to
    pay for her private birthday bash. Minister Amafo resigned under
    pressure but has not been prosecuted.

    ¶8. COMMENT: Whether Minister Hildenberg survives this financial
    scandal remains to be seen. As a well-respected Minister, sentiment
    seems to be running in his favor. However if the extent of his
    direct involvement increases so may the call for his resignation.
    Post finds it heartening that political scandal is not ignored in
    Suriname. In the coming months Post will continue to report on
    scandal and corruption, in part to identify areas ripe for GOS
    cooperation with USG law enforcement initiatives to build capacity
    in the region. END COMMENT

    SCHREIBER HUGHES

`