PHILIPSBURG:--- Police arrested the brother of the suspect they have in custody for the shooting of police officer Gamali Benjamin that is now brain dead and unresponsive to medical treatment.
According to information reaching SMN News, the suspect was arrested in the Middle Region area on Friday. The brother has been identified bystanders as “Franklin”. According to information reaching SMN News the brother of suspect that is currently in the ICU ward of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) removed items from his brother’s home while he was in police custody.
Press Prosecutor Karola Van Nie confirmed to SMN News that a second person has been arrested on Friday. Van Nie said that because of the nature of the investigation she is unable to release any information on the ongoing investigation that police is busy with.
The Prosecutor and KPSM put together a special team to investigate the robbery and shooting of Officer Gamali Benjamin who is currently brain dead and unresponsive to medical treatment.
Joint Press Release Prosecutor's Office and KPSM ----25-Year Old Male Arrested For Liquidating Evidence
On Friday August 7th, in the afternoon, an arrest was made in the case of the 'Oro Diamante robbery', the case in which our beloved colleague Gamali Benjamin was shot.
A 25-year old male was arrested by members of the 'Multi Disciplinary Investigation Team'. This team consists of members from the Federal Detectives (Landsrecherche), the R.S.T. (Recherche Samenwerkings Team) and KPSM and it's handling the robbery case.
The 25-year old man was arrested because he's suspected of his complicity in this case; he tried to get rid of evidence which could be important for the detectives to solve this case.
He was taken to the police station in Philipsburg where the public prosecutor decided to put him into custody for the time being. He will be questioned by members of the Multi Disciplinary Investigation Team.
KPSM & Prosecutors Office Joint Press Release.
