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WILLEMSTAD, Curacao -- All suspects in the gold heist case in Curacao will remain in detention according to the local court. On Wednesday, the court ruled that one of the suspects, who had appealed his continued detention, will get 30 more days behind bars pending further investigations.

Initially, the six suspects who saw their stay in prison prolonged on January 16 appealed this court ruling. The court has already ruled in five cases that they will stay in prison.

On Monday, the sixth suspect appeared in court for his appeal against the judge’s ruling extending his detention. During this hearing, the court considered if there were personal reasons that were valid enough to suspend the detention of the suspect. On Wednesday, the court rejected this petition.

The detention of a seventh suspect and the most recent arrest, prominent local businessman, G.A.R. Pizziola (51), was ordered on January 22.

On Friday, November 30, 2012, around 4:30 am, masked men in jackets emblazoned with the word “police” boarded a fishing vessel in Curacao and stole 70 gold bars worth an estimated $11.5 million. The boat’s captain was struck in the head in the early-morning assault before the thieves made off with the gold in three vehicles. Authorities believe there were at least six men involved in the heist. Up to now there have been seven arrests linked to the robbery.

Republished with permission of the Curacao Chronicle

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