Suriname currently only has one attorney general. MP Chandrikapersad Santokhi (VHP) who has been accused of interfering in the legislature during his term in office as president of the Republic of Suriname strongly denied these accusations Friday. He referred to existing laws in the constitution and legislation in the legislature before labeling the accusations as one big fat lie. Fellow legislators as well as outsiders have accused the former president of giving orders to the attorney general in specific cases such as the violent events that took place during the riots of February 17th, 2023. MP Santokhi claimed that the state was in serious peril that day as buildings were attacked and set on fire while citizens and entrepreneurs sought protection. He also claimed that during his term in the presidential office he only acted within the law and that he never interfered in investigations, prosecution and cases that were presented to a judge. The former president referred to Article 131 Section 3 of the constitution which clearly states that it is not allowed to interfere in legal affairs. “That Article not only applies to citizens or the government but also to parliament and the president. Nobody is above that law,” said MP Santokhi who also mentioned Article 148 which clearly states that the government determines the general policy on prosecution and is allowed to give orders in specific cases in the interest of national security. MP Santokhi referred to Article 4 of the Rules for the Organization and Composition of the Legislature which states that the attorney general is obligated to follow the orders that are given by or on behalf of the president. He then quickly added that there is a clear distinction between an order and a request. “Just like every other citizen I also have the right to ask the attorney general to launch an investigation when the state or citizens have become the victim of punishable facts. That is not an order. That is what each citizen can do,” said the former head of state who added that he had never given any formal orders to the attorney general but that there are documents which prove that former presidents did in fact do so. However, his explanations triggered interruptions from other legislators. MP Mielando Atompai (NPS) confronted MP Santokhi with statements that he had made during his term in office and when he had clearly stated that “I have given the order to the attorney general.” He publicly asked if this was not a forbidden interference in investigations. “Who are we when you say that we will prosecute? The law clearly stated that the Public Prosecutor’s Office is the one that prosecuted and not you,” said MP Atompai. Tensions clearly ran high in the conference room and the chairman of parliament, Ashwin Adin, repeatedly had to intervene to maintain order and contain the interruptions. MP Santokhi (VHP) stuck to his stance and labeled the accusations as a big fat lie. He then challenged critics to watch the footage that was shot on February 17th, 2023 again. “You will see that no order was given as is being claimed here,” said MP Santokhi who added that he used the term we to constitutionally indicate that the entire government as is mentioned in the constitution. “Read the constitution and everything will become clear.”