Philipsburg:--- Former Finance Minister Hiro Shigemoto received what can be termed as "class justice" on Thursday morning when he was led before the Judge of Instruction at the Court of First Instance. Shigemoto was taken to court by detectives from the Landsrecherche who sneaked the former Minister of Finance who is also a civil servant through the front door of the court house while the griffier of the court Marissa James was busy in an open court session. One would believe that the Court of First Instance was in cahoots with the Landsrecherche and the tricks they played while escorting Shigemoto to court but James made clear that she was busy in court and she did not see what the Landsrecherche did when they brought Shigemoto to court.
Another abnormal procedure that was observed by all reporters and photographers was that the detectives who transported Shigemoto to court were tipping off his relatives who were also standing outside the Court of First Instance. It appeared as though those transporting Shigemoto to court gave his relatives including his wife who is the daughter of the Minister of Justice Roland Duncan indications that they were going to sneak Shigemoto into the Court House through the Front door instead of using the regular side door that is used by the police for all other suspects. The process used for Shigemoto on Thursday clearly indicates that justice is no longer about the alleged crimes committed but it is about who is involved in the crimes. Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said the former Minister is suspected of embezzlement, fraud, and breaking Government rules when he paid Global Advisory Services double for the services the company provided to the Government of St. Maarten.
The Landsrecherche tried the same trick some years ago when former Commissioner Louis Laveist was arrested but the griffier of the Court made sure that proper procedures were followed back then when Laveist left the Court House. Reporters and photographers that were waiting outside the Court of First Instance were again tricked when Shigemoto was escorted through the side door by a detective of the Landsrecherche as he left the Court of First Instance but SMN News reporter's camera lens caught the former Minister of Finance entering a brand new white Hyundai Santa Fe that was driven by a detective from the Landsrecherche. Shigemoto wore a black and white stripe shirt, black pants, and black shoes. He left the Court House unshackled but a detective of the Landsrecherche walked closely in front and beside Shigemoto to ensure that his photograph was not taken.
SMN News learnt from sources that Shigemoto was allegedly tipped off before his arrest and he managed to secure the services of Attorney at Law Jairo Bloem before he was arrested. The source said that the picket lawyer on duty was not even called when Shigemoto was arrested. Bloem is currently off island and his associates represented Shigemoto on Thursday.
Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said the Prosecutor's Office requested that the pre-trial detention of the former Minister of Finance Hiro Shigemoto be suspended on December 24th, 2012. Mos said the Judge of Instruction granted the Prosecutor their request because they need to question the former Minister for a few more days before they release him for the Christmas Holidays. When asked if Shigemoto is cooperating with the investigation, Mos said the former Minister is cooperating because he gave some statements to the investigators.
The former Minister of Finance was immediately taken to the Philipsburg Police Station and Ambulance personnel were summoned to the Police Station to provide emergency care to Shigemoto who is a diabetic and high blood pressure patient.
SMN News reporter contacted Attorney General of St. Maarten Taco Stein to inquire if the Minister of Justice used the long arms of the law to protect his son in law and to treat him with class justice, Stein quickly blamed the police claiming they are the ones that transported Shigemoto to court and he was not aware that the former Minister of Finance was given special treatment. Stein said that the Minister of Justice was not involved neither was he even though he is the boss of the Landsrecherche whose performance is far below optimal. SMN News also contacted the Minister of Justice Roland Duncan to inquire if he had any influence on how his son in law was treated but Minister Duncan said he was not informed or aware of what the Landsrecherche was doing. Minister Duncan said he did not even ask about the investigation and how it's progressing because he will not interfere with the ongoing investigation. At the time, the Minister of Justice was busy distributing toys to the less fortunate children that are in protective custody.
While Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos told SMN News earlier this week that Shigemoto will be treated like a normal citizen, it appears as though the Landsrecherche and the Prosecutor's Office gave Shigemoto the same treatment they gave to Hendrick Croes of Aruba. Mos who was the Chief Prosecutor of Aruba at the time told reporters in Aruba that Hendrick Croes is not a normal citizen when he was arrested. Hendrick Croes is the brother of the Minister of Justice of Aruba Rudy Croes, the statements by Mos back then cost him his job in Aruba because the citizens of Aruba did not take his statements lightly and they protested in the Parliament of Aruba. When SMN News indicated to Mos that we will mention what he said about Hendrick Croes, Mos got upset saying that SMN News should not write anything about that case if we don't have the facts. The island's Chief Prosecutor even raised his voice saying "I would advise not to write about the Hendrick Croes case because you may not have the facts straight and I would prefer if you visit my office so I could tell you exactly what happened in Aruba." Mos further claimed that the reporters in Aruba were prejudicial when they wrote the Hendrick Croes story. Mos said he does not believe that Hiro Shigemoto was given class justice because he was arrested and is still in pre-trial detention.
Click here to view how suspects are normally excorted to the Court of First Instance.