Former Suriname President Desi Bouterse failed to report on Friday morning to a prison in the capital, Paramaribo, where he was due to begin a 20-year term.
The press and a group of supporters had gathered at Bouterse’s home on Friday expecting a speech, but he was not present. His wife claimed she did not know his current whereabouts.
However, she also informed journalists that he would not be going to jail.
The Surinamese Public Prosecutor’s Office could not immediately comment on the situation.
Bouterse was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in murders perpetrated in December 1982, when 15 critics of the then military regime were executed at Fort Zeelandia in Paramaribo.
Bouterse’s lawyer, Irvin Kanhai had maintained that the former president would comply with the judge’s ruling. His advocates had asked the judge not to enforce the sentence, but that plea was rejected.
Three co-defendants did report to the Santo Boma prison near the capital, Paramaribo, the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed. The elderly ex-military men, Benny Brondenstein, Stephanus Dendoe and Ernst Geffery, were all sentenced to 15 years in prison.
