PHILIPSBURG:--- "In the last few weeks, there have been many discussions surrounding Mr. Heyliger. Please note that it is not customary for me or the ministry to react to any investigations whether they are open or closed. As much as I sympathize with his family and any family whose loved ones, parent, child or friend are involved in an investigation that has led to his or her pre-trial detention or incarceration there is a fine line that any minister of justice has to walk to avoid getting personally involved. The minister is responsible for public order and should not get involved in individual cases. This case like every other case has to be fought in the court of justice and not in the court of public opinion.
With this in mind, I would like to stress that the office of the minister of justice cannot and should not be compromised or used as the fall guy neither for the prosecutor or any suspect.
The system that we have-trias politica-with our legislative, executive and judicial branches-clearly separate the powers. These are the boundaries in which we must operate."
Statement Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever.
