The police said in a statement that it has coordinated with the Attorney General’s Office to seize the body and open the aforementioned investigations, after Buterse was taken last night to his relatives home in Paramaribo by “unknown individuals.”

According to the police, the body did not show signs of criminal activity, and the autopsy will seek to determine the probable cause of death, while several people are also under questioning as part of the criminal investigation.

Supporters of the deceased have been going to the headquarters of his National Democratic Party (PND) since Thursday, to sign a book of condolences, while they await the delivery of the remains to organize the funeral.

Until now the family said that they will not ask for state honors, while Ramón Abrahams, leader of the PND, told reporters that they will take the book to several districts of the country and the funeral honors are expected to be held on January 3 or 4, if the Government releases the body by that date.

The former president of Suriname Desi Bouterse Delano died at the age of 79 on Tuesday, December 24, and the news of the death was known through the family and government inquiries.

He ruled the country from 1980 to 1987, and in 2010 he won the presidential elections to remain at the head of the country until 2020, when he retired from politics.

At the time of his death, his whereabouts were unknown and an arrest warrant was pending against him.

ied/arc/ymr