In a significant ruling, Suriname’s former police commissioner, Ruben Peiter, alongside police inspector Dennis Esajas, has been sentenced to seven years in jail.
The verdict was delivered in a high-profile criminal case linked to the discovery of a substantial quantity of cocaine in September 2021.
High-stakes trial captures national attention
The trial, presided over by Justice Maureen Dayala, included Peiter and Esajas among five individuals implicated in the case. At the heart of the matter was the seizure of 478 kilograms of cocaine on September 1, 2021.
The case garnered national attention not only due to the sheer volume of drugs intercepted but also because of the involvement of retired senior police officers.
Peiter and Esajas were apprehended and detained on October 13, 2021, further intensifying public interest in the proceedings.
Intriguing details unveiled
According to police reports, the illicit substance was discovered inside a van parked in a residential garage, where authorities apprehended a 31-year-old woman from the Dominican Republic.
However, subsequent investigations revealed her alleged connection to Rodrigues Marciano ‘Mao’ Landveld, another defendant in the drug-related case.
Landveld, who eluded arrest since the onset of the trial, was convicted in absentia and sentenced to an eight-year prison term for his alleged complicity in drug transportation.
Key revelations during trial
During the trial, the court heard evidence implicating Peiter and Esajas in the transportation of the narcotics.
The prosecution asserted that the cocaine was likely sourced from a burnt-out aircraft discovered near the Adyumabergi area.
Both Peiter and Esajas were found guilty of intentionally trafficking drugs.
Verdict and sentencing
In addition to Peiter and Esajas, another defendant known only as GS received a sentence of 10 months imprisonment for his involvement in the transportation of drugs, with consideration given for time served in pre-trial detention.
Another person, Gene K, who was said to have probably rented the van, was acquitted of all charges.
