Philipsburg:--- The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Co- Manager of WINAIR Roberto Gibbs was arrested as a suspect in the Piranha Investigation on Monday December 3rd, 2012. Fifty-nine year old Gibbs is a well known businessman that owns Global Advisory Services. According to information provided by well placed sources, Gibbs was retained by the former UP/DP Government to install a new tax code for country St. Maarten. SMN News further learnt that the investigation which started some two years ago stemmed from the complaints filed by the former Director of the Government Finance Department Bas Roorda. Roorda provided the prosecutor's office with several pieces of information which incriminated the former head of the Tourist Office and now Member of Parliament Frans Richardson.
Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos confirmed that Gibbs was arrested and he is suspected of embezzling a huge sum of monies. In a written press release, Mos said that the Special Investigation Unit (Lands recherché) arrested 59-year old R.A.G. Mos further explained in his press release that from 2009 to 2011, G. has been involved in recruiting personnel for various government agencies. He is suspected of having committed fraud, forgery, and money laundering concerning payment for his services. A considerable amount of money appears to be involved.
On August 14th, 2012, a search was executed at the office of G. in Sint Maarten. At the same time, searches took place at two offices in Curaçao. The Piranha investigation started after a complaint was filed in 2011. G. will be led before the judge of instruction tomorrow.
