~ Pretrial detention extended by 8 days.~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Shackling a Member of Parliament on St. Maarten has become the norm while not giving any explanations to the people of St. Maarten is the way the TBO and Prosecutor’s Office work as long as it pertains to politicians.
Member of Parliament Frans Richardson was arrested and whisked away on Monday morning, two days later the people of St. Maarten is waiting to know exactly why their representative was arrested and why the silence if the TBO and Prosecution have hard evidence against him.
Questions now being posed by the electorate ranges from being a witch hunt, or a fishing expedition by the interrogators, especially the TBO and Prosecutor’s Office.
Investigators including a Prosecutor flew in from Curacao and arrested MP Richardson and to date, they have not released any information on the case they are investigating. In a short press release, the TBO states that the Anti-Corruption team detained an MP who is suspected of accepting bribes, (co-) committing official coercion and abusing his position. The suspect was arrested in the past on suspicion of comparable facts in connection with another investigation.
SMN News conducted its own investigation and learned that MP Richardson is a suspect in the BTP investigation that involves Attorney at Law Peggy Ann Brandon, Carl Critchlow of Taliesin Construction Judith de Weever, Attorney at Law Roland Duncan whose law firm was also searched, the Director of BTP Antonio Carty, Former Minister of TEATT Romeo Pantophlet who was also questioned and the financial auditor of BTP Judianne Hoeve whom it is alleged cooperated with the investigators.
SMN News also learned that the pretrial detention of MP Richardson have been extended by 8 days. TBO Spokesman Roderick Gouverneur confirmed that the detention has been extended.
Member of Parliament Frans Richardson, through his attorney Sjamira Roseburg on Wednesday said that he definitely feels targeted and fully intends to fight for his freedom and innocence. Richardson is in restrictive custody and cannot have any contact with anyone other than his lawyer and the law enforcements. Richardson still has faith to have a fair trial. His first case has been indefinitely postponed. This second case feels like a targeted attempt. The hardest part however, is not being able to have contact with or see his family. His two young children, his wife, his mother all have to once again go through this traumatic event. More information will be shared with the public when possible by law.
