Suriname police chief urged to tighten control of seized assets amid corruption claims

VHP parliamentarian and former police commissioner Krishna Mathoera said the police chief, not the Justice and Police Minister, is directly responsible for the organisation and management of seized goods held by the Suriname Police Force (KPS). She highlighted that money, gold, drugs, jewellery, mercury and detainees have gone missing from police offices in recent years and called for clear instructions, regular spot‑checks and a three‑way coordination between the police chief, the prosecutor‑general and the minister.

VHP MP Cedric van Samson added that replacing Minister Harish Monorath will not solve the problem because the police corps itself is riddled with corrupt officers. He cited a recent mercury theft on police premises that remains unresolved and argued that the minister is constrained by the police union, making it difficult to address the systemic issues within the force.