Philipsburg:--- Several homes on the Dutch and French sides of the island have been invaded this past week by robbers. While police and the gendarmes are called and they would normally visit and process the crime scenes the news is often not reported.Several civil servants working at the Government Administration Building in Philipsburg claimed their homes were robbed. Their homes they said were invaded on more than one occasion by thieves who would not only steal their valuables but would ransack the place and leave it in a total mess.
The victims of these robberies said that police and detectives were called to their homes and the police took their reports and processed the crime scene but the crimes are not being reported in the media. Several of the victims said they believe the police will not release the amount of armed robberies simply because they do not want the people of St. Maarten to panic.
They said the police are not arresting robbery suspects for the lack of prison space at the Pointe Blanche Prison. "Even if the police know who the culprits are they are not making any arrests because they will be released days after they were arrested." One victim told SMN News that since the prosecutor's office was forced to release suspects who were held for armed robberies to make space for murder suspects, the invasion of homes increased dramatically. "Homes are broken into high day and in many instances neighbors would see what is taking place and just cannot do anything because when they call the police they would rush to the scene with their sirens on which gives the thieves the opportunity to escape." One retired police inspector said his house was broken into and he investigated the case himself and he notified police who the culprits were and even though they arrested the suspects they were released by the judge of instruction.
In an invited comment, Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said suspects of armed robbery are arrested when they are caught but these suspects can only spend up to 26 days in pre-trial detention for the lack of prison cells in Pointe Blanche. The Chief Prosecutor said it is diabolical for him to take these decisions but when one is confronted with a situation where there are no prison cells then his office has to decide which suspects to release and which ones to send up to Pointe Blanche. Mos said his office has sent a proposal to the Minister of Justice advising him that he release prisoners who have almost completed their sentence but the Minister he said still has to take a decision. "I suggested that the Minister use the instrument of grace to release prisoners who have a few months left on their convictions but so far the Minister has not taken a decision and the prosecutor's office has no jurisdiction on prisoners who are already convicted, the only person who can suspend prison sentences is the Minister of Justice and the Governor," Mos said.
Mos further explained that the police have formed a special team who is working successfully to solve home invasion and armed robbery cases but they are now hampered for the lack of prison cells. The Chief Prosecutor said these robbery suspects can get as much as two years depending on the robberies they commit and it is his belief that they can send home a prisoner that has a few more months remaining on their sentence to make room for the robbery suspects and or convicts. Mos said it is very sad when people's homes and privacy are invaded and when their valuables are stolen but for now his office does not have a solution for the lack of cells.
