Bernhard Komproe, 62; Ex-Head of Netherlands Antilles Faced Probe

Former Netherlands Antilles Prime Minister Bernhard “Ben” Komproe, 62, who had recently been detained in a corruption case, has died.

Komproe died Monday in Willemstad, Curacao, of apparent kidney failure and other complications from recent gastric surgery, said a spokesman for the Workers Liberation Front political party, of which Komproe was a member.

Komproe became prime minister of the Dutch Caribbean territory in July 2003, when party leader and nominee Anthony Godett did not pass a required security screening because of a fraud case against him.

Komproe served as justice minister from August 2003 to April, when he received a vote of no confidence in parliament on the accusation that he had unlawfully conceded special privileges to the party’s main financier, Nelson Monte, who was in prison awaiting trial on corruption charges.

Komproe was suspected of receiving money from alleged brothel operator Giovanny van Ierland in exchange for allowing Dominican and Colombian prostitutes to enter Curacao without visas. Komproe was also accused of unlawfully trying to reduce van Ierland’s 12-year prison term for international drug trafficking.