PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Swat Team conducted a raid at the home of former police officer Ashwin Martina who was suspended from the Police Force for some time until he was eventually dismissed from KPSM in October 2012 by former Minister of Justice Roland Duncan. The MB was signed by Governor Eugene Holiday and the former Minister of Justice. According to information provided to SMN News early on Wednesday morning, the Swat Team conducted the raid after they were tipped off that the officer was in possession of an illegal firearm. Officer Ashwin Martina was suspended from the Police Force after having a number of problems within the community. The last incident was when he hit the supervisor of MNO Vervat who along with some workers were conducting road works on Pondfill Road in the vicinity of the Philipsburg Police Station. Officer Martina's action landed the Government of St. Maarten with a bill of US $9,000.00 for the asphalt that was prepared for the road work that evening and could not be done. Even though the Police Management and the former Minister of Justice suspended Officer Ashwin Martina pending his dismissal, he was still living in a house that is paid for by government, while his salary was also being paid pending the finalization of the decree to terminate him from KPSM. SMN News further learnt that an illegal firearm and other items were indeed seized during the search on Wednesday morning.
SMN News further learnt that the Landsrecherche is conducting the investigation and they requested assistance from the police, thus the Police Swat Team assisted with the raid.
Prosecutor Tineke Kamps said that the Prosecutor's Office was not informed about any searches that was conducted on Wednesday morning. However, she said later after conducting some research that a raid was indeed conducted at the home of a former police officer who was arrested and later released. Prosecutor Kamps said the Landsrecherche is continuing the investigation.
Attorney General Taco Stein confirmed that a search was conducted at the officer's home and that the search was not conducted illegally. Stein said the police could search a home or any location without official permission from the Prosecutor's Office. St. Maarten's Attorney General further confirmed that some items were seized but declined to say what those items were.
