Philipsburg:---Former employee of the Today Newspaper Alex Holder who was arrested last week and released on Monday this week has sent a detail press release explaining the circumstances of his arrest. Holder also included the decision taken by the management of the Today Newspaper who issued a dismissal letter to him. Below is the full text of the press release.
Around 4:00pm on November 6, 2009, I –Alex Holder, was invited to the Philipsburg Police Station for question regarding a complaint filed by my former fiancé Karelien de Palm on my (unlawful) use of her credit cards.
During my initial interview with law enforcement, I admitted using the cards to take care of personal business. During the lone interview of my pre-trial detention, I provided the investigating officers with a detailed statement, which supplied a relatively accurate account of my actions with the cards in question.
For the sake of clarity, I would reiterate.
I initially used the card sometime in July to clear up outstanding debts for my college tuition. At that time, I was wrapping up my Master of Arts degree in Communications, which I graduated Magma Cum Lad. I also still had some outstanding payments on my Bachelor of Arts degree in English, which was completed in 2007 with the same institution. These degree programs were perused through an online-accredited university.
I admitted to police that I failed to consult with the owner of the cards prior to me using them. In my defense I told the officers and the prosecution that I did not think (at the time) it would matter to her, considering I used the money for my education which according to me would ultimately serve to improve the quality of life for myself, her and our (at the time) unborn son. I did however tell her about it at a later date.
Added to that, the cards were also used for other matters. All the monies spent totalled about NAf. 5,000.
Although she was not made fully aware of all that her cards financed we had agreed that I would repay the monies in time, which she knew would not be overnight. The last conversation of this nature was a mere week prior to the baptism of our son on November 1.
DISMISSED
I am no longer the Editor of the Today Newspaper. I lost my position on November 10 last. My dismissal came two days after I sought an advance from my employer to clear the outstanding debts. My employer said he would only consider advancing me the cash in the event that it would somehow have an effect on my prosecution.
I did not receive that advance but rather a dismissal letter two days later. The grounds for my dismissal were (according to the letter) based on the fact that I was unable to execute my duties as Editor, my unprofessional approach towards my job, and my personal use of office property, namely a cable box.
The letter, signed by Managing Editor Hilbert Harr, says, “Today Publishing has lost all trust and confidence in you as an employee. This warrants your immediate dismissal.”
Another aspect of my dismissal was based on the fact that I my statement to police was being considered a confession. “Your criminal offence has become a fact for which a conviction is highly likely,” the letter says.
I was never given the option to explain my position with my employer and efforts will be made via the labor department to determine whether my dismissal was contractually binding.
RELEASED
On November 16, the Prosecutor’s Office decided on a conditional dismissal of the charges against me. The reason for their decision was not made explicitly clear in their notice.
Nonetheless, all criminal proceedings against me has ceased on the grounds that I repay the outstanding sum within a specified time and engage in community service. I was released sometime after 3:00pm on November 17.
LOGICS
KD and I have been in a relationship for the past eighteen months. During this time we have lived together, have given birth to a beautiful son (Alex Holder Jr.) and have made plans (having executed some), all geared towards to the eventual goal of settling in marriage.
During this time, we have both made sacrifices for each other, some of which include me financing renovation works to her home through the procurement of a loan, among others.
This loan, I must add, is still being paid by me, although we no longer share a roof.
Considering the 15-year age difference between my person and my former fiancé, building that ideal life was not always as easy as we had hoped. Our differences often collided and in several instances ended in my moving out. Some of these conflicts would see the intervention of her brother, who also shared the home with us. His last intervention saw me being beaten in the face in the early morning hours of November 2 last. My police report on the matter is what I believe lead to my subsequent arrest and 11-day detention.
Regarding the position with my son, I was not allowed to see him during the week prior to my detention, nor since.
I am not sure whether I would be perusing a case with the court of guardianship on to see joint, custody or whether we as parents would be able to reach an agreement as adults before it gets to that stage.
Press Release by Alex Holder