Gillmore André Hoefdraad (born 17 December 1962) is a Surinamese economist and politician. He was Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname from 2010 until 2015, and Ministry of Finance of Suriname from 2015 to 2020. In January 2020, it was reported that US$100 million was missing from the Central Bank.[1] In July 2021, an Interpol red notice was issued for Hoefdraad.[2] Hoefdraad was sentenced in absentia to 12 years imprisonment on 17 December 2021.[3]
Gillmore Hoefdraad | |
|---|---|
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| Minister of Finance of Suriname | |
| In office 2015–2020 | |
| President | Desi Bouterse |
| Preceded by | Andy Rusland |
| Succeeded by | Armand Achaibersing |
| Governor of the Central Bank of Suriname | |
| In office 2010–2015 | |
| Preceded by | André Telting |
| Succeeded by | Glenn Gersie |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gillmore André Hoefdraad 17 December 1962 Paramaribo, Suriname |
| Alma mater | University of Santiago de Cuba |
Biography edit
Hoefdraad was born on 17 December 1962 in Paramaribo.[4] He is a chess player, and became national youth champion in 1978, 1979 and 1980.[5] He studied economy at the University of Santiago de Cuba.[6]
In 1988, Hoefdraad started working for the Central Bank of Suriname, and was a part-time lecturer at the Anton de Kom University. In 1991, he became a full-time professor. In 1999, he started working for the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC.[6]
In 2010, Hoefdraad was appointed Governor of the Central Bank.[7] In 2015, he was appointed Ministry of Finance of Suriname in the cabinet of Desi Bouterse.[8] During his tenure, he took out 92 loans increasing the debt from SRD 9.2 billion to SRD 20.7 billion.[7] In 2019, the Progressive Reform Party reported Hoefdraad to the Prosecutor General for exceeding the debt ceiling.[9] On 1 November 2019, the National Assembly voted for a new law which no longer criminalised exceeding the debt ceiling.[10]
In January 2020, it was reported that US$100 million was missing from the cash reserves of the Central Bank.[1] Vice President Ashwin Adhin explained that the money was used to buy potatoes and onions.[7]
In April 2021, the Prosecutor General filed a request to prosecute Hoefdraad for dubious transactions between the Central Bank and the Belgian company Clairfield.[11] On 11 July, an Interpol red notice was issued for money laundering, embezzlement and corruption.[2][12] On 23 July, an exit ban was issued.[13] On 30 July, it was reported that he had been spotted in Skeldon, Guyana.[14]
On 17 December 2021, Hoefdraad was sentenced in absentia to 12 years imprisonment and a fine of SRD 500,000.[15] He was found guilty on violating the anti-corruption laws, misuse of state resources, participating in a criminal organisation, and embezzlement.[16] On 24 December, an appeal was filed.[17]
References edit
- ^ a b "US$ 100 miljoen aan kasreserve gebruikt; SBV misleid". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Oud-minister Hoefdraad op opsporingslijst Interpol". Suriname Herald (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Voortvluchtige ex-minister Gillmore Hoefdraad veroordeeld tot 12 jaar celstraf". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Hoefdraad wordt gezocht door justitie en politie". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Surinaamse schaakbond jubileum boek" (PDF). Suri Chess (in Dutch). 2015. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ a b "SUMMARY OF CURRICULUM VITAE GILLMORE HOEFDRAAD, M.Sc" (PDF). International Institute for Scientific Research. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ a b c "De rekening van Gillmore Hoefdraad: 92 leningen in vijf jaar". Parbode (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "13 ministers regering Bouterse bekend". Suriname Herald (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "VHP doet aangifte bij procureur-generaal tegen minister Hoefdraad". Dagblad Suriname via Nieuws Suriname (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Wet Staatsschuld aangenomen met 26 stemmen vóór". Star Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "OM houdt vast aan overtuigend bewijslast tegen Hoefdraad". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "58-jarige Surinaamse ex-minister Hoefdraad op Interpol opsporingslijst". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Uitreisverbod voor Surinaamse oud-minister Hoefdraad". Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Ex-Surinamese Finance Minister hiding out in Berbice". Kaieteur News Online. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Voortvluchtige ex-minister Gillmore Hoefdraad veroordeeld tot 12 jaar celstraf". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Ex-minister Gillmore Hoefdraad veroordeeld tot 12 jaar". De Ware Tijd (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Voortvluchtige ex-minister Hoefdraad tekent verzet aan". Waterkant (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 January 2022.