United States returns $29.7 million to Curaçao following lottery fraud and money-laundering case
The US is returning $29.7 million to Curaçao, stemming from an eight-year fraud and money-laundering case involving the Curaçaoan lottery.
United States returns $29.7 million to Curaçao following lottery fraud
The United States is returning $29.7 million to Curaçao, stemming from a long-running fraud and money-laundering case in the island's lottery sector. This is reported by NU.cw (Dutch Caribbean).
According to the US Department of Justice, Curaçaoan entrepreneur Robby dos Santos is central to the case. He operated an illegal lottery, amongst other things, and left taxes owed on the income obtained unpaid. The proceeds eventually ended up at a bank in Miami.
Curaçao had previously requested that American authorities MNF hold the money and collect it in the US from the convicted individual. The case has lasted eight years.
The returned amount is not freely available to the government and remains under supervision. The Ministry of Justice intends to use the funds for the police, crime prevention and projects in the prison sector.
Source: NU.cw (Dutch Caribbean)