Philipsburg: ---- The editor of the Today Newspaper Hilbert Haar has spent his second night behind bars last night for assaulting a female former colleague of his. Haar was arrested on Wednesday evening for physically abusing Lisa Brown Mac Kay who went at the TODAY Newspaper Office to pick up her camera. She told reporters that Haar has always been insulting her and this is the second time he assaulted her. It is understood that the detectives are busy working on his file to take the matter the court sometime today for an extension in pre-trial detention.
Chief Prosecutor Taco Stein said a final decision in the case has not yet been taken since police was still hearing witnesses up to late yesterday afternoon. Stein did not disclose who those witnesses are and when the interrogation would be completed.
However, sources told this newspaper that all the employees who were at the Today Office were called in by police as witnesses.
Asked what are some of the possibilities that can be taken against Haar Stein said that Haar can be called to pay a fine and or do community service or he can be summoned to court if there is sufficient proof. He said they can also dismiss the case but all of the above depends on the contents of the file, which he did not get yet.
Sources told SMN News that Haar's wife an employee of the Court of First Instance was seen at the Prosecutor's Office trying her best to get her husband released, but her bids seemingly failed.
On another note information, reaching SMN News is that the managing director of the TODAY Richard Gibson Jr does not intend to take actions against Haar since he is supposedly a good worker. Despite knowing that Haar not once but twice assaulted a female and it is not sitting well with the community Gibson is yet to issue a warning letter to Haar for his irresponsible behaviour.
The source said if Haar is released from custody now he would immediately return to work at the Today without any repercussions. So far, Gibson did not release an official statement while he could not be reached by phone for a comment.
Several commenters on this and other websites are condemning Haar's attitude towards the former journalist as well as the community of St. Maarten, including Safe Heaven and the St. Maarten Media Workers Association where Haar is a founding member.
Some bloggers are outraged and promised to take the law in their own hands when he is released from police custody. Hilbert Haar is also known for using the newspaper to write articles that criticize several well-known persons in the community including Leopold James.
