Less than two weeks after the cremation of former Surinamese president Desi Bouterse, Vice-President Ronnie Brunswijk has found himself under investigation by judicial authorities. This follows his recent admission that he had known the location of Bouterse’s hiding place for nearly a year and had maintained contact with the former military dictator.

Brunswijk, leader of the Maroon-supported ABOP party, caused a stir this week when he casually told reporters that he was surprised police and judicial authorities had not known where Bouterse was hiding. He claimed he had been in touch with Bouterse, receiving photographs via mobile phone just days before his death. The former president, who was 79, passed away hours before Christmas at his riverside home in Paramaribo. Bouterse had been evading justice for over 11 months, having fled after being sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the 1982 murders of 15 political opponents.

Bouterse, who staged military coups in 1980 and 1990, was considered the de facto head of state during the 1980s. His sudden death has left authorities questioning how his body appeared at his heavily monitored home without their knowledge. Brunswijk’s comments about knowing Bouterse’s whereabouts have now raised legal questions, as he did not share this critical information with the government he serves.

“We were on good terms until his death,” Brunswijk said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. “It was known where he was for a long time. I don’t know if the judicial authorities didn’t know that, but Suriname is so small.”

Brunswijk also confirmed he had visited Bouterse’s family after his death, offering condolences, and had been in contact with members of Bouterse’s National Democratic Party (NDP), a group expected to perform well in the upcoming May elections.

The state prosecutor’s office has requested a formal explanation from Brunswijk, but as of now, he has not responded. The letter, sent on January 6, came two days after Bouterse’s cremation. Brunswijk had also expressed interest in attending Bouterse’s funeral but claimed he did not receive an official invitation.

Brunswijk, who once served as Bouterse’s bodyguard in the 1980s, later broke away to form a rebel group that unsuccessfully tried to reverse the coup.

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