Police raid former president Bouterse’s home amid fugitive hunt
Police raided the home of former Surinamese president and military leader Desi Bouterse in Leonsberg as part of an operation to enforce his conviction in the December Murders case. Dubbed “Operation Kerstbrood,” the raid was part of a broader effort to locate Bouterse, who has been on the run for nearly a year following his 20-year prison sentence for the 1982 killings of 15 political opponents.
Authorities confirmed that Bouterse, 78, was not found at his residence during the search. Surinamese media have reported that police also conducted a simultaneous search at the home of Iwan Dijksteel, another fugitive convicted in the same case. Officials have not disclosed further details about the raids or any evidence obtained.
The December Murders, which occurred under Bouterse’s military regime, involved the torture and execution of union leaders, journalists, academics, and other critics of his government at Fort Zeelandia, which served as his headquarters at the time. After a lengthy judicial process spanning decades, Bouterse was convicted in absentia in 2019, with the Court of Appeal reaffirming the sentence in 2021.
Bouterse was supposed to begin his prison term in January 2024 but failed to report as ordered. His wife, Ingrid Waldring-Bouterse, told reporters at the time that she did not know his whereabouts. Speculation has persisted that Bouterse remained in hiding within Suriname.
In January 2024, the Surinamese Public Prosecution Service ordered Bouterse to report to prison to begin his sentence. However, he failed to comply with the directive, prompting authorities to declare him a fugitive. His wife, Ingrid Waldring-Bouterse, told reporters at the time that she did not know his whereabouts. Speculation has persisted that Bouterse remained in hiding within Suriname.
Suriname’s Public Prosecution Service placed Bouterse and Dijksteel on its national wanted list in January. In March, Interpol issued a Red Notice for Bouterse, calling on police forces worldwide to detain him if located outside the country. Three other former bodyguards sentenced for their roles in the murders have begun serving their prison terms.
