Philipsburg: --- Former Commissioner of Labor and Social Affairs Louis Laviest will be making his first appearance in court on Wednesday where he would answer charges to forgery, bribery and fraud. The commissioner, who has been in active since he was arrested on October 22nd 2008, still holds his office even though his portfolios have been distributed among the other commissioners. Laveist spent nine days behind bars where he was interrogated on the alleged wrong doings.
Leader of Government Sarah Wescot Williams had approached Laveist while in pre-trial detention and requested that he resigned from office but to date the commissioner has not done so. He said in earlier interviews that a person is innocent until proven guilty and that no one should act on behalf of the judge and jury. He even called on the community as well as his colleagues in government to give him the benefit of the doubt and to wait until the trail is over.
Laveist is represented by Attorney at law Remko Stomp. In an earlier interview with SMN News Stomp said he is confident that his client would be cleared from all charges.
It alleged that Laveist committed fraud and forged several documents in relation to work permits as he was the labor commissioner who was in charge of working permits. He was accused of accepting bribes from several business persons through the Culture Club foundation.
