Bouterse can file clemency request

The fugitive and convicted ex-president Desi Bouterse can still formally submit a request for clemency to the president of the Republic of Suriname, who would in turn seek an advisory opinion from the Court of Justice. Whether Bouterse’s request will be granted is another matter.
It’s worth noting that the president is not bound by the court’s advice. This was stated by jurist and politician Antoon Karg in an interview with Radio ABC. In the clemency request, the convicted individual must provide a summary of the procedural history. Although Bouterse can formally submit a clemency request, the advisory opinion is likely to be negative due to the nature of the case.
An assessment must be made of how the convicted person has conducted himself with regard to the judiciary throughout the case. Karg points out that Bouterse’s status as a fugitive is itself a crime, not only for him but also for those who aided him.
The court will examine how Bouterse conducted himself throughout the December 8 trial, especially towards the victims’ families and the judges. Legal and investigative questions would need to be raised about how someone who was frequently absent from court sessions due to illness managed to become a fugitive. All these factors will undoubtedly influence the advisory opinion, according to the jurist.