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Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Suriname's parliament has stripped a former Cabinet minister of immunity, allowing him to stand trial for his alleged involvement in a scheme to award fake contracts.
In a closed session late last Thursday, the National Assembly voted unanimously to lift former Civil Workers Minister Dewanand Balesar's immunity.
Under Suriname law, former Cabinet ministers can only be prosecuted for crimes committed while they were in office if their immunity is lifted.
Balesar stepped down in May pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations that he was part of a scheme to award more than 40 cleaning contracts to fictitious contractors. He has denied involvement.
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