Philipsburg:--- The Editor in Chief of the Today Newspaper Hilbert Haar has been released from police custody about 11 am on Friday. In an invited comment, Chief Prosecutor of the Windward Islands Taco Stein said he has ordered Haar's release since the crime he committed did not warrant him being detained any longer. Stein said Haar could have been released since Thursday but the police was waiting on another witness.
Stein said his office took the decision to release Haar yesterday morning even though the other witness is not yet being heard. He said so far no decision has been taken in the case and that will happen when the file is completed and sent to his office.
After his release, Haar came out on the steps of the police station where he posed for his picture to be taken, he then returned inside the police station where he waited to file a complaint against the former reporter he assaulted on two occasions. It is understood Haar plans to file a complaint of trespassing against Brown. However, it is not clear how that will stand in the court of law since Brown went to the Today Newspaper based on an invitation of her former colleague.
Violence and Racism.
Several supporters of Hilbert Haar and another well-known website began accusing media workers, SMN News and SIT for inciting racism and violence. On the contrary, media workers and the administrator of SMN News are totally against any and all sorts of violence and racism. However, we do believe in democracy and freedom of the press.
If Haar was a victim in this or any other case this media house would have covered the story the same way.
Our profession as journalist is to report the news that we ourselves go into the field and look for. SMN News does not copy comments from other people's website and turn it into news, as is the case of the Today.
A few months ago, the police was ordered to investigate how many civil servants and police were taking monies for work permits. The order was given after Haar took a comment from another website and made it a story. Doing so destroys the integrity of journalism and more so discredit the newspaper he manages.
Over the past months, Hilbert Haar has been abusing the power of the media to express his own opinion against many persons in the community as well as against his own colleagues. He has chosen to segregate himself from the rest of the media professionals on the island. That choice was not made by any of the journalist on St. Maarten, Haar made that choice, he also chose to hit Brown not once but twice.