WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO:--- The long-running Ennia financial scandal has re-emerged in the legal spotlight. Following the recent passing of Hushang Ansary, the central figure in the controversy, the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) is intensifying efforts to ensure responsible parties face criminal prosecution.
According to reports from the Antilliaans Dagblad, the CBCS has initiated an Article 15 criminal procedure. This legal mechanism is designed to compel the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM) to proceed with prosecution through an order from the Court of Justice.
Both the CBCS and the Prosecutor General's office have confirmed this development. While a hearing date for the complaint has not yet been set, it is expected to be scheduled soon.
A Timeline of Delays
The push for action comes nearly eight years after the initial criminal complaints were filed. The first report of criminal offenses regarding Ennia was lodged in June 2018, with a supplementary report filed in August 2019. Despite the passage of time, no criminal charges have materialized from the investigation thus far.
In a statement responding to press inquiries, a corporate communications officer for the Central Bank clarified the timeline of their recent legal maneuvering.
"On July 9, 2025, the CBCS submitted a complaint under Article 15 of the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the failure to prosecute criminal offenses concerning Ennia," the officer stated. "Through this complaint, the CBCS has objected to the fact that the criminal investigation instituted by the Public Prosecutor's Office has not yet led to the criminal prosecution of the persons responsible for the relevant criminal offenses."
The Central Bank has requested the Common Court of Justice to order that prosecution be instituted. The complaint is currently pending, with a ruling from the Court awaited.
Impact of Ansary's Death
The legal landscape shifted in early January with the death of the 98-year-old Iranian-American businessman Hushang Ansary. While prosecution is no longer applicable to him personally, the Article 15 procedure signals the Central Bank’s determination to hold other involved parties accountable for the alleged mismanagement and financial irregularities that plagued the insurance giant.
The upcoming court decision on the CBCS complaint will be a pivotal moment in determining whether the criminal aspect of the Ennia debacle will finally move forward after years of stagnation.