PHILIPSBURG:--- The Prosecutor’s Office has petitioned the Court of First Instance for permission to remove the management team from the Port of St. Maarten and the members of the Supervisory Board. The case was scheduled to be heard on April 10th 2018 but has been postponed to May 23rd, 2018.
Based on the petition the Prosecutor’s Office states that they want CEO Mark Mingo removed along with Richard van der Mark and Ton Van Kooten. The Prosecutor’s Office is spearheading the Emerald Investigation which began in April 2016. Mingo was arrested on June 7th, 2017 while at the Princess Juliana International Airport by members of the TBO and RST. He was released on June 28th and was later suspended from his job pending the outcome of the investigation which also includes Checkmate boss Oniel Arrindell.
Ever since the Emerald investigation began members of the management team were questioned a number of times, most recently in January 2018. Mingo has been accused of fraud and corruption. In a press release issued on June 28th, 2017 the prosecutor’s office claimed that this form of fraud has been going on for years and some USD 7 million were disadvantaged from the Port and the country.
