Robert van Trikt: “I acted in good faith”

48-year-old Robert van Trikt, ex governor of the Central Bank of Suriname (CBvS), who on Monday appeared in court along with his 40-yearold business partner, Ashween Angnoe, was confronted with witness statements for 5 long hours by Judge Maytrie Kuldipsingh. Judge Kuldipsingh told Van Trikt that the Central Bank gave the State a loan of SRD 2.2 billion although the state had not given any surety. Van Trikt explained that the loan was given as surety for the royalties of IAMGOLD. There was a resolution for this. “I acted in good faith,” said Van Trikt who explained that he eventually expressed his discontent and that he concluded that he had come across a chaotic situation at the Central Bank. When he came into office no specific arrangements had been made with the then president and Finance Minister Gillmore Hoefdraad regarding his tasks. He had no experience with monetary financing and there was no clear job description. Van Trikt claimed that Hoefdraad had assured him that he would guide him because he had been the governor for five year. He also claimed that he had good intentions aimed at getting the bank to a certain level. “But I was confronted with outside influences. I was with my back against the wall and I had to make choices.” During the investigation, it became clear that Orion Assurance & Advisory NV, the company which Angnoe and Van Trikt run as business partners had signed five agreements with the Central Bank. Van Trikt claimed that it was not a custom to make a call for tenders and to inform the board of directors of the business partners of the Central Bank. Nevertheless Van Trikt claimed that “I had always been transparent,” said Van Trikt who added that the then minister of Finance, Hoefdraad, was aware of the deals between the Central Bank and the Belgian company Clairfield and Orion Assurance & Advisory NV. The minister even told him to keep up the good work. Van Trikt made it clear that “there was no conflict of interest.”

The judge pointed out that the ex governor signed deals with companies of which he was a shareholder in Suriname and Belgium. Orion Assurance & Advisory NV was paid with money from the Central Bank while Van Trikt had 50% of the shares in this company. The judge also mentioned the cars that were purchased for the Central Bank. Van Trikt claimed that there are no procedures for the purchase of cars and that his predecessors had also driven cars that were bought for certain figures. The Central Bank also bought two buildings for the State. The judge denied the request for the release of Angnoe and Van Trikt as there are still strong objections. Irvin Kanhai had filed the request for the release of both suspects who have been in jail for the past 8 months. “I can guarantee you that they will attend each trial and that they will fully cooperate with the investigation,” said Kanhai. John Kraag told the court that there is no flight risk. The Public Prosecutor’s Office, however, objected to the request of the defense team. The defendants are due back in court on November 26.