Cynthia Klein-Jules

Cynthia Klein-Jules is a Surinamese kantonrechter (magistrate) who recently made headlines for her controversial ruling in a case involving seven police officers. On June 30, 2023, she fully acquitted the officers who were accused of using excessive force during civil unrest in Pikin Saron on May 2, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of two Indigenous men. Her decision sparked significant disappointment and concern among the Indigenous community and various organizations, leading them to request an appeal from the public prosecutor's office. Klein-Jules' ruling emphasized the lack of evidence against some officers and classified the actions of others as self-defense within legal boundaries, igniting a broader discussion about justice and accountability in Suriname.