The recent criminal case against police officer Robert Vos and journalists such as R.L., B.K., N.G. and N.C.d.A. has cast a shadow over integrity within both the police and media in Aruba. These developments are part of a broader series of corruption scandals that have come to light since 2018.
The Robert Vos Case and the 'New York' Trial
In December 2023, police officer Robert Vos was sentenced to 16 months in prison, eight months of which were suspended, for embezzlement, breach of official secrecy, abuse of office and bribery by journalists. He was caught repeatedly passing confidential police information to journalists in exchange for money and gifts. During a search of his home in March 2023, several laptops and police walkie-talkies were found that were used to disseminate police communications. Vos was also given a three-year ban from serving as a police officer.
The Case of Nelson 'Speed' Andrade and Officer Kenneth Rasmine
This recent case recalls previous scandals, such as that of journalist Nelson "Speed" Andrade. In 2018, Andrade was accused of unauthorized use of police communications to obtain real-time information about criminal incidents for reporting purposes. On Oct. 30, 2018, Andrade and other journalists, including Marko Espinoza, Ross Tromp and Maritza Lacle, were arrested. The investigation also led to police officer Kenneth Rasmine, who was accused of providing a police radio to Andrade.
During the appeal hearing, Rasmijn's defense argued that although the police radio disappeared in December 2015 and was later found at journalist Espinoza's home, there was no direct evidence that Rasmijn had provided it. Rasmijn denied any involvement and claimed he did not know about the misuse of the equipment.
Ruling and Consequences
In July 2019, Andrade was found guilty and sentenced to 240 hours of community service, while Espinoza was given 160 hours. This case revealed how deep-rooted the problem of corruption and misuse of police frequencies is.
Integrity issues in the Police Force
Chief of Police Ramon Arnhem expressed concern about the scandals in 2023 and stressed the importance of integrity within the force, "This is terrible. People should be able to trust the police. Especially we have to be the paragon of integrity."
These incidents, including those of Officer Vos and the journalists involved in the "New York" case, have reinforced calls for stricter adherence to ethical and legal standards. Trust in both the police and journalism in Aruba remains under pressure, highlighting that integrity is not only a moral imperative, but essential to maintaining public support and transparency.
